Service, blue-collar workers more at risk for heart disease, stroke: report

Atlanta – Among workers younger than 55, employees in service and blue-collar jobs are more likely to report a history of coronary heart disease or stroke, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2008 to 2012. Two industries had significantly higher adjusted prevalence ratios: administrative/support/waste management/remediation services and accommodation/food service.

Occupational risk factors might in part cause the increased risk, but prevalence of pre-existing illness or risk factors among workers in different industries and occupations is unknown, the report states. Occupational coronary heart disease or stroke risk factors include work stress, shift work, exposure to particulate matter, noise and secondhand smoke. CDC urges health professionals and employers to take these factors into account when planning disease-prevention efforts.

The report was published in the Aug. 1 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.