Stress at intellectual work and cardiovascular diseases in women at non-mobility working age

Stress at the work place reduces efficiency, as well as increasing accidents and absences, which may cause various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study is an analysis of the prevalence and causes of stress in intellectual work, and its correlation with the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in women at non-mobility working age.

The study was conducted in 2016-2017 in a group of 300 women aged 45-60 in non-manual employment. A questionnaire for subjective job evaluation was used. Logistic regression models for the occurrence of CVDs versus frequency of occurrence of individual causes of work stress among the respondents were estimated.

Women at non-mobility working age with non-manual employment are especially exposed to stress, half of them experience high level of stress at work, most often caused by social contacts and lack of rewards and support. Cardiovascular diseases were found in 26.5% of the women studied who were also significantly higher exposed to the occurrence of health hazards due to exposure to harmful factors, or due to an accident at work, changes in the workplace, the need to compete with others,and the need to perform the task despite the lack of appropriate material resources, compared with women without such diseases.

The study revealed a high prevalence of occupational stress in non-manual employment, indicated its main causes that correlated with the alence of cardiovascular diseases. Actions are needed to reduce the level of stress in the work of women at non-mobility working age, to maintain their work ability and quality of life.