Associations between dimensions of job stress and biomarkers of inflammation and infection.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine associations between dimensions of job stress and indicators of chronic inflammation and infection. Within a subsample from the BELSTRESS study of 892 male subjects free of cardiovascular disease, dimensions of job stress from the job demand-control-support model were related to biomarkers of inflammation (plasma fibrinogen concentrations, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A) and infection (titers against Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, and Helicobacter pylori). A negative association was found between job control and plasma fibrinogen concentration, independent from age, education, occupation, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and use of lipid-lowering and antihypertensive medication. Higher social support at work was independently related to an increased risk of positive titers against cytomegalovirus. Results confirm previous findings regarding elevated plasma fibrinogen and low job control.