Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
A prospective study of mortality and morbidity among carpenters in the Honolulu Heart Program Cohort
F D Miller1, D M Reed, C J MacLean
1Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822.
Insights
Carpentry occupation is linked to reduced coronary heart disease and mortality. This study in Japanese-American men found lower cardiovascular disease rates among carpenters, unaffected by confounding factors.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Preventive medicine
Background:
- The Honolulu Heart Program investigated cardiovascular disease risk factors in men of Japanese ancestry.
- Previous studies have explored occupational influences on health outcomes, with mixed findings.
- The 'healthy worker bias' can complicate the interpretation of occupational health studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between carpentry as an occupation and the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and total mortality.
- To determine if the observed associations are influenced by cardiovascular risk factors or confounding variables.
- To assess the impact of carpentry on cardiovascular disease rates, considering potential biases.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study analyzing data from the Honolulu Heart Program with an 18-year follow-up period.
- Participants were categorized based on their present and usual occupation as carpenters or non-carpenters.
- Age-adjusted rates for coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and total mortality were compared between groups, with adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors and confounders.
Main Results:
- Men whose usual and present occupation was carpentry exhibited significantly lower age-adjusted rates of definite coronary heart disease.
- A significantly lower mortality rate was observed in participants who were carpenters compared to those who were never carpenters.
- No significant differences were found for age-adjusted rates of stroke and cancer, or for individuals whose usual occupation was carpentry but current was not.
Conclusions:
- Carpentry as an occupation is associated with reduced rates of coronary heart disease and overall mortality in Japanese-American men.
- These findings support a protective relationship between carpentry and cardiovascular disease, independent of common risk factors and confounding variables.
- The study's results are not influenced by the 'healthy worker bias', strengthening the observed association.
Abstract:
The relationship of occupation as a carpenter to the development of definite coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer and total mortality was examined in men of Japanese ancestry participating in the Honolulu Heart Program. After 18 years of follow-up those men who indicated that their present and usual occupation was carpentry had a significantly lower age-adjusted rate of definite coronary heart disease and a significantly lower mortality rate compared to participants who were never occupied as carpenters. There were no significant differences for age-adjusted rates for stroke and cancer nor any differences for those whose usual occupation was carpentry but present occupation was not carpentry. These results were unchanged when controlling for several cardiovascular risk factors and potentially confounding variables. Unlike earlier observations, these findings are not affected by the "healthy worker bias" and support the relationship that carpentry is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy