PuSH - Publication Server of Helmholtz Zentrum München

Emeny, R.T. ; Lacruz, M.-E. ; Baumert, J.J. ; Zierer, A. ; von Eisenhart Rothe, A. ; Autenrieth, C. ; Herder, C.* ; Koenig, W.* ; Thorand, B. ; Ladwig, K.-H.

Job strain associated CRP is mediated by leisure time physical activity: Results from the MONICA/KORA study.

Brain Behav. Immun. 26, 1077-1084 (2012)
DOI PMC
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
Background: Psychological stress at work is considered a cardiac risk factor, yet whether it acts directly through neuroimmune processes, or indirectly by increasing behavioral risk factors, is uncertain. Cross-sectional associations between job strain and serum biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were investigated. Secondary analyses explored the role of psychosocial/cardiometabolic risk factors as mediators of job stress associated inflammation in healthy workers. Methods: Information on risk factors was obtained in standardized personal interviews of a subcohort of working participants in the MONICA/KORA population (n = 951). Work stress was measured by the Karasek job strain index. Biomarkers were measured from non-fasting venous blood. Multivariate regression analyses were used to examine the association of job strain with inflammatory biomarkers. Mediation analysis (Sobel test) was used to determine the effect of psychosocial risk factors on the association between job strain and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: High job strain was reported by half (n = 482, 50.7%) of the study participants. While workers with high job strain were more likely to have adverse workplace conditions (competition with coworkers, job dissatisfaction and insecurity), sleeping problems, depressive symptoms, a Type A personality, and be physically inactive, no differences in cardiometabolic risk factors were detected. A strong and robust association between job strain and CRP was observed in age and sex adjusted models, as well as models adjusted for classic coronary heart disease risk factors (beta = 0.39, p = 0.006 and beta = 0.27, p = 0.03, respectively). Adjustment for physical activity abrogated this effect (beta = 0.23, p = 0.07), and a mediating effect of physical activity on stress-associated inflammation was demonstrated (p = 0.04). Conclusions: The analyses provide evidence for both a direct and an indirect effect of job strain on inflammation.
Altmetric
Additional Metrics?
[➜Log in]
Edit extra informations Login
Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Stress ; Inflammation ; Crp ; Job Strain ; Work Stress ; Physical Activity ; Coronary Heart Disease; CORONARY-HEART-DISEASE; C-REACTIVE PROTEIN; TYPE-2 DIABETES-MELLITUS; AUGSBURG CASE-COHORT; MIDDLE-AGED MEN; GENERAL-POPULATION; DECISION LATITUDE; WHITEHALL-II; RISK-FACTORS; WORK STRESS
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0889-1591
e-ISSN 1090-2139
Journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity
Quellenangaben Volume: 26, Issue: 7, Pages: 1077-1084 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place Amsterdam [u.a.]
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI2)