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Long working hours associated with elevated ambulatory blood pressure among female and male white-collar workers over a 2.5-year follow-up

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 36, pages 207–217 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Population-based strategies targeting modifiable risk factors are needed to improve the prevention of hypertension. Long working hours have been linked to high blood pressure (BP), but more longitudinal research is required. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of long working hours (≥41 h/week) on ambulatory BP mean over a 2.5-year follow-up. The effect modification of family responsibilities was also investigated. A repeated longitudinal design was used. Data collection was performed at three-time points over a 2.5-year follow-up among over 2000 white-collar workers. Working hours were self-reported assessed by questionnaire. BP was measured using Spacelabs 90207. The outcomes were systolic and diastolic BP mean. Cross-lagged GEE linear regressions were used to examine whether working hours were associated with BP means at the next measurement time. Women working long hours had a higher diastolic BP mean at follow-up compared to women working regular hours (+1.8 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.5–3.1)). In men, those working long hours had both higher systolic and diastolic BP means increases (systolic: +2.5 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.5–4.4)) and diastolic: +2.3 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.0–3.7)). This association was greater among workers having high family responsibilities. This longitudinal study showed that women and men working long hours had higher BP means when compared those working 35–40 h per week. These findings suggest that strategies that promote work weeks not exceeding 40 h might contribute to the primary prevention of hypertension, especially for workers with high family responsibilities.

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Fig. 1: Flow chart of the study population.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the participants and organisations that participated in this study. We would also like the thank Caty Blanchette, biostatistician, for performing the analyses and reviewing the manuscript.

Funding

This work is part of a CIHR funded research project lead by CB on work stressors and cardiovascular health; MGO is chairholder of the Canada Research Chair in sex and gender in occupational health when the work was conducted; DT is a FRQ-S chercheur-boursier.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada

    Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet

  2. Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec-Laval University, Québec, Canada

    Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet, Xavier Trudel, Denis Talbot, Alain Milot & Chantal Brisson

  3. Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    Xavier Trudel, Denis Talbot & Chantal Brisson

  4. Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Canada

    Michel Vézina

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    Alain Milot

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  1. Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet
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Correspondence to Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet.

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Gilbert-Ouimet, M., Trudel, X., Talbot, D. et al. Long working hours associated with elevated ambulatory blood pressure among female and male white-collar workers over a 2.5-year follow-up. J Hum Hypertens 36, 207–217 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-021-00499-3

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