Work Stress and Metabolic Syndrome in Police Officers. A Prospective Study |
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| Authors: | Sergio Garbarino Nicola Magnavita |
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| Institution: | 1. State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of the Interior, Rome, Genoa, Italy.; 2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.; 3. Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal-Infantile Sciences (DINOGMI), Genoa, Italy.; 4. Department of Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.; Mathematical Institute, HUNGARY, |
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| Abstract: | ObjectiveThe aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the association between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a rapid response police unit.MethodWork-related stress was continuously monitored during the 5-year period with both the Demand-Control-Support (DCS) and the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models. Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose were measured at baseline in January 2009, and in January 2014. 234 out of 290 police officers (81%) completed the follow-up.ResultsThe majority of police officers had high stress levels. At follow-up, police officers in the highest quartile of stress had significantly higher mean levels of triglycerides, and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol than their colleagues in the lowest quartile. Police officers with high stress had an increased adjusted risk of developing MetS (aOR = 2.68; CI95% = 1.08–6.70), and hypertriglyceridemia (aOR = 7.86; CI95 = 1.29–48.04). Demand and Effort were significant predictors of MetS.ConclusionOur study supports the hypothesis that work-related stress induces MetS, particularly through its effects on blood lipids. Future longitudinal studies with continuous monitoring of stress levels will definitively confirm this hypothesis. |
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