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Occupational Exposures and Cardiovascular Disease

Since 2011 SBU has had a mandate from the Swedish government to systematically assess the evidence associating occupational exposures to health issues. The objective of this review was to assess the scientific basis describing the influence of occupational exposures on cardiovascular disease.

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SBU Assessment

Presents a comprehensive, systematic assessment of available scientific evidence for effects on health, social welfare or disability. Full assessments include economic, social and ethical impact analyses. Assessment teams include professional practitioners and academics. Before publication the report is reviewed by external experts, and scientific conclusions approved by the SBU Board of Directors.

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Published: Report no: 240 https://www.sbu.se/240e

Conclusions

  • People in the following groups more often develop heart disease over time than people who are not subjected to- the specified exposure at work:
    • Those with job strain (i.e. experience psychological demands, but lack Control of their own working situation); or those who experience work as mentally stressful; or those who lack control; or those who experience effort-reward imbalance
    • Those who experience low social support at work; those who experience injustice at work; or those who have insufficient opportunities for personal development; or those who experience job insecurity
    • Those who work night schedules; or have long working weeks
    • Those who are exposed to noise
  • People in the following groups more often develop stroke over time than people who are not subjected to the specified exposure at work:
    • Those who lack control
    • Those who have shift-work
    • Those who are exposed to noise
    • Those who are exposed to ionizing radiation at work
  • People in the following groups more often develop hypertension over time than people who are not subjected to the specified exposureat work:
    • Those who experience job strain (i.e. find their work demanding, but lack Control from their working situation); or those who experience effort-reward imbalance
    • Those who have shift-work
    • Women and men with similar occupational exposures develop cardiovascular disease to the same extent, in relative terms. During the working years, the risk for men to suffer or die acute myocardial infarction or stroke approximately doubles that for women.
    • Cardiovascular disease has serious consequences for affected individuals, their families and the society. Prevention has the potential to reduce suffering for the individual and to save resources. This report presents research-based knowledge about occupational exposure and cardiovascular disease that is useful for future interventions in the workplace.

Studies of high or moderate quality used for results and conclusions in the present report

How to cite this report: SBU. Occupational exposures and cardiovascular disease. Stockholm: Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU); 2015. SBU report no 240 (in Swedish).

Project group

Experts

Töres Theorell (Chair), Stockholm University

Katarina Jood, University of Gothenburg

Joep Perk, Linnæus University

Lisbeth Slunga Järvholm, Umeå University

Eva Vingård, Uppsala University

Per-Olof Östergren, Lund University

SBU

Charlotte Hall (Project Director)

Therese Kedebring (Project Administrator)

Karin Stenström (Assistant Project Director)

Lena Wallgren (Scientific Writer)

Marie Österberg (Data Extraction to Tables)

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