Psychosocial work conditions before myocardial infarction in young men

Abstract

All male patients in the greater Stockholm area who had survived a myocardial infarction below the age of 45 were examined with regard to medical and psychosocial risk factors 3-6 months after the onset of the infarction. For each patient, a male control subject was randomly selected after matching with regard to age and residence area. In the patient group, coronary angiograms were performed and rated with regard to degree of coronary atherosclerosis. The psychosocial variables were not correlated with degree of coronary atherosclerosis. Excessive work demands combined with boredom at work ("variety" and "intellectual discretion") were significantly more often reported by the patients after adjustment had been made for life style factors. In the multivariate analysis a high LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, a high cumulative tobacco consumption, high demands in relation to variety at work as well as high demands in relation to influence over work and finally a low alcohol consumption were significant independent predictors of case status. Excessive work demands in themselves did not differentiate cases from controls.