Work stress and the long QT syndrome: high job strain and effort-reward imbalance at work associated with arrhythmic risk in the long QT syndrome

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 55; no. 12; p. 1387
• Main Authors: Hintsa, Taina, Määttänen, I, Hintsanen, M, Swan, H, Toivonen, L, Kontula, K, Keltikangas-Järvinen, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; ERG1 Potassium Channel; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels - genetics; Female; Finland; Heterozygote; Humans; Job Satisfaction; KCNQ1 Potassium Channel - genetics; Long QT Syndrome - genetics; Long QT Syndrome - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation; NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel - genetics; Professional Autonomy; Reward; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Workload - psychology; Workplace - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000026

To examine whether work stress is associated with a symptomatic status of the long QT syndrome (LQTS). The sample comprised 173 KCNQ1, KCNH2, or SCN5A gene mutation carriers (70 symptomatic) and control groups of 203 relatives without the family mutation, and of 1209 population-based young Finns control subjects. Work stress was assessed using the Job Content Questionnaire and Occupational Stress Questionnaire. We found an association between the occurrence of symptoms in the LQTS and high work stress, higher job demands/effort, lower job control, and lower rewards compared with control subjects. We also found that symptomatic LQTS mutation carriers had higher work stress than asymptomatic LQTS mutation carriers. Higher work stress is related to arrhythmic risk in the LQTS. It may be useful to incorporate assessment of work conditions and stress interventions into management of high-risk patients.