title: Work stress and the long QT syndrome: high job strain and effort-reward imbalance at work associated with arrhythmic risk in the long QT syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether work stress is associated with a symptomatic status of the long QT syndrome (LQTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 173 KCNQ1, KCNH2, or SCN5A gene mutation carriers (70 symptomatic) and control groups of 203 relatives without the family mutation, and of 1209 population-based young Finns control subjects. Work stress was assessed using the Job Content Questionnaire and Occupational Stress Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an association between the occurrence of symptoms in the LQTS and high work stress, higher job demands/effort, lower job control, and lower rewards compared with control subjects. We also found that symptomatic LQTS mutation carriers had higher work stress than asymptomatic LQTS mutation carriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher work stress is related to arrhythmic risk in the LQTS. It may be useful to incorporate assessment of work conditions and stress interventions into management of high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: From the Institute of Behavioural Sciences (Dr Hintsa and Mr Määttänen, Mr Hintsanen, and Ms Keltikangas-Järvinen), Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies (Ms Hintsanen), Department of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital (Mr Swan and Ms Toivonen), and Department of Medicine (Mr Kontula), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hintsa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Määttänen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hintsanen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toivonen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontula
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keltikangas-Järvinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel / Q000235:genetics; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D062554:NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / Q000235:genetics; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012201:Reward; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; C496909:KCNQ1 protein, human; D062554:NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; C568320:SCN5A protein, human