Job Strain and Heart Disease

Job strain raises risk for first myocardial infarction, but the effect of job strain on recurrent cardiac disease is less clear. Researchers evaluated this association in 972 Canadian patients (91% men) with first uncomplicated MIs who returned to work after a mean of 3 months. Job strain was assessed with a validated questionnaire administered at about 6 weeks and at 2 years after return to work. Job strain was categorized according to psychological demands (high or low) and decision latitude or control (high or low), with highest strain defined as high demands and low control (experienced by about 200 subjects at both assessments).

At 6 years, fatal or nonfatal MIs or new-onset unstable angina had occurred in 206 participants (3.6 events/1…