Organisational change, job strain and increased risk of stroke? A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this pilot study was to explore whether organisational change and work-related stress, as measured by the Job Content Questionnaire, were associated with first-ever stroke among working people aged 30-65.


METHODS
In a case-control study a total of 65 consecutive cases, aged 30-65 years of age, with first-ever stroke were recruited from four hospitals in Sweden during 2000-2002. During the same period, 103 random population controls in the same age interval were recruited. Data on job-related stress and traditional medical risk factors were collected by a questionnaire.


RESULTS
In the multivariate analyses, organisational change (OR 3.38) increased the likelihood of stroke, while experiencing an active job (OR 0.37) decreased the likelihood of stroke. Regarding risk factors outside work, age (OR 1.11), low physical activity (OR 5.21), low education (OR 2.48) and family history of stroke (OR 2.59) were associated with increased likelihood of stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests an association between organisational change, work-related stress and stroke. The likelihood of stroke was lower for people in active job situations.
Medin
Jennie
J
National Center of Work and Rehabilitation, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. medin@nhv.se
Ekberg
Kerstin
K
Nordlund
Anders
A
Eklund
Jörgen
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden