Workplace Wellness Programs for Employees at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review

ObjectiveThis review summarized the literature on employer-sponsored workplace wellness programs (WWP) to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in employees at-risk for CVD.Data SourceUsing keywords related to WWP and CVD, a comprehensive search was conducted for articles published between 2000-2024 in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ABI/INFORM, and Web of Science.Study Inclusion and Exclusion CriteriaOriginal, peer-reviewed quantitative research articles comparing employer-sponsored WWP to a control or comparison group to reduce CVD risk factors in civilian adults that were at-risk for CVD were included.Data ExtractionSummary tables included program/intervention, occupation/industry category, employer size, participant sample size, participant characteristics, outcomes, and other key information.Data SynthesisIntervention results and overall quality of the articles were evaluated to determine the state of the literature and whether WWP yielded statistically significant improvements in CVD-related outcomes.ResultsEighteen articles met eligibility (including 7 randomized controlled trials). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were the most commonly studied outcomes. Most studies reported non-statistically significant results, but nearly half found significant improvements in systolic blood pressure.ConclusionThis systematic review found mixed evidence on the effectiveness of WWP to improve CVD risk factors. By focusing on at-risk employees and objectively measured biometrics, this review provides a more targeted synthesis of the evidence. Future studies should consider longer interventions and a randomized approach to augment the rigor and interpretability of intervention findings.