Physical work demands and physical fitness in low social classes--30-year ischemic heart disease and all-cause mortality in the Copenhagen Male Study.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate whether high physical work demands increase risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality among men of low social class with low physical fitness.


METHODS
Thirty-year follow-up in the Copenhagen Male Study of 5249 men aged 40 to 59 years without cardiovascular disease. Physical fitness was estimated using the Åstrand cycling test, and physical work demands determined by two self-reported questions.


RESULTS
Among 2707 low social class men, multiple-adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratios showed an almost threefold increased risk of IHD mortality among men with high physical work demands and low physical fitness, but not among men with a high physical fitness, referencing men with low physical work demands.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings among low social class men support that high physical work demands increases the risk of IHD mortality among those with low physical fitness.
The Copenhagen Male Study, Epidemiological Research Unit, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. aho@nrcwe.dk
Andreas
A
Holtermann
Ole Steen
OS
Mortensen
Hermann
H
Burr
Karen
K
Søgaard
Finn
F
Gyntelberg
Poul
P
Suadicani
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment; D005080:Exercise Test; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000401:mortality*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011203:Poverty; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires