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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 May 1;47(4):249-257.
doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3938. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Is job strain associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus? A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Wenzhen Li  1 , Guilin Yi, Zhenlong Chen, Xiayun Dai, Jie Wu, Ying Peng, Wenyu Ruan, Zuxun Lu, Dongming Wang
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Is job strain associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus? A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Wenzhen Li et al. Scand J Work Environ Health. .

Abstract

Objectives: Epidemiological studies have explored the relationship between work-related stress and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but it remains unclear on whether work-related stress could increase the risk of T2DM. We aimed to evaluate the association between job strain and the risk of T2DM.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science up to April 2019. Summary risk estimates were calculated by random-effect models. And the analysis was also conducted stratifying by gender, study location, smoking, drinking, body mass index, physical activity, family history of T2DM, education and T2DM ascertainment. Studies with binary job strain and quadrants based on the job strain model were analyzed separately.

Results: A total of nine studies with 210 939 participants free of T2DM were included in this analysis. High job strain (high job demands and low control) was associated with the overall risk of T2DM compared with no job strain (all other combinations) [relative risk (RR) 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.31], and the association was more evident in women (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.02-2.14). A statistically significant association was also observed when using high strain as a category (job strain quadrants) rather than binary variable (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.04-2.55) in women but not men.

Conclusions: Our study suggests that job strain is an important risk factor for T2DM, especially among women. Appropriate preventive interventions in populations with high job strain would contribute to a reduction in T2DM risk.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart for selection of eligible studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The association of high job strain with T2DM risk.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The association between job strain model quadrants and T2DM risk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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