Associations of work hours, job strain, and occupation with endothelial function: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Abstract

To investigate associations of work hours, job control, job demands, job strain, and occupational category with brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in 1499 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants. Flow-mediated dilation was obtained using high-resolution ultrasound. Mean values of FMD were examined across categories of occupation, work hours, and the other exposures using regression analyses. Occupational category was significantly associated with FMD overall, with blue-collar workers showing the lowest mean values-management/professional = 4.97 ± 0.22%; sales/office = 5.19 ± 0.28%; services = 4.73 ± 0.29%; and blue-collar workers = 4.01 ± 0.26% (adjusted P < 0.001). There was evidence of effect modification by sex (interaction P = 0.031)-significant associations were observed among women (adjusted P = 0.002) and nearly significant results among men (adjusted P = 0.087). Other exposures were not significantly associated with FMD. Differences in endothelial function may account for some of the variation in cardiovascular disease across occupational groups.