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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2004.057679v1 96/8/1436    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Guimont, C. Articles by Blanchette, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Guimont, C. Articles by Blanchette, C. Related Collections Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology Occupational Health

Chantal Guimont, MD, PhD, Chantal Brisson, PhD, Gilles R. Dagenais, MD, FRCP, Alain Milot, MD, MSc, FRCP, Michel Vézina, MD, MPH, FRCP, Benoît Mâsse, PhD, Jocelyne Moisan, PhD, Nathalie Laflamme, PhD and Caty Blanchette, MSc

Chantal Guimont, Chantal Brisson, Michel Vézina, Joce-lyne Moisan, and Caty Blanchette are with the Unité de recherche en santé des populations, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, and the Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City. Chantal Guimont is also with the Département de médecine familiale, Université Laval, Quebec City. Gilles R. Dagenais and Alain Milot are with the Département de médecine, Université Laval. Benoît Mâsse is with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Wash. Nathalie Laflamme is with the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Quebec City.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Chantal Brisson, PhD, Unité de recherché en santé des populations, Hôpital du St-Sacrement du CHA, 1050, chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec G1S 4L8, Canada (e-mail: cbrisson{at}uresp.ulaval.ca).

Objectives. We evaluated whether cumulative exposure to job strain increases blood pressure.

Methods. A prospective study of 8395 white-collar workers was initiated during 1991 to 1993. At follow-up, 7.5 years later, 84% of the participants were reassessed to estimate cumulative exposure to job strain.

Results. Compared with men who had never been exposed, men with cumulative exposure and those who became exposed during follow-up showed significant systolic blood pressure increments of 1.8 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.1, 3.5) and 1.5 mm Hg (95% CI=0.2, 2.8), respectively, and relative risks of blood pressure increases in the highest quintile group of 1.33 (95% CI = 1.01, 1.76) and 1.40 (95% CI = 1.14, 1.73). Effect magnitudes were smaller among women. Effects tended to be more pronounced among men and women with low levels of social support at work.

Conclusions. Among these white-collar workers, exposure to cumulative job strain had a modest but significant effect on systolic blood pressure among men. The risk was of comparable magnitude to that observed for age and sedentary behavior. Men and women with low levels of social support at work appeared to be at higher risk for increases in blood pressure.

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