Onset of workplace conflict, incident cardiovascular disease and changes in biomarkers
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Aims To assess the associations of onset of workplace conflict on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and changes in biomarkers. Methods The study included 2704 employees aged 18-65 years and free of workplace conflict at baseline (T 0 ), from the Swedish Work, Lipids, Fibrinogen study (proportion of women: 17%). Exposure to onset of workplace conflict was ascertained at T 1 using self-reports (mean interval between T 0 and T 1 : 5 years). Participants were linked to nationwide registers to ascertain incident CVD. Changes in biomarkers, including body mass index, waist-hip ratio, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and fibrinogen, were measured and calculated between T 0 and T 1 . Cox regressions and linear regressions were applied for analyses on conflicts in relation to CVD and conflicts in relation to changes in biomarkers, respectively. Age, sex, educational level, marital status, pre-existing comorbidities, employment contract, and shift work were adjusted for in the main analyses. Results About 10% experienced onset of workplace conflict between T 0 and T 1 . Among 2682 participants who were free from CVD at T 0 , 87 CVD events were recorded (mean follow-up from T 1 : 7.8 years, incidence rate: 41.5/10,000 person-year). Onset of workplace conflict at T 1 was associated with 2.42 times (95%CI 1.42, 4.12) higher risk of developing CVD during the follow-up period. Among 877 participants with information on changes in fibrinogen, onset of workplace conflict at T 1 was associated with an elevated level of fibrinogen from T 0 to T 1 (mean difference=0.14; 95%CI 0.02, 0.25) and onset of high fibrinogen (OR=1.41; 95%CI 1.04,1.90). These associations were largely robust for additional adjustments, restrictions and consideration of selection bias and were not likely to be affected by reverse causation. Conclusions Onset of workplace conflict was related to higher risks of developing CVD and elevated fibrinogen.
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,830
Awards: G1808488659, Exposure to work-related adverse social behaviors– extended evidence regarding its psychosocial work- and organizational determinants and risk for morbidity and mortality, Unpacking the black box: Pathways from workplace bullying and violence to cardiometabolic diseases, G786904599, Elucidation of cancer cell adaptive program in initiation of metastatic growth in distant organs and novel therapeutic strategies
OpenAlex ID: W4414223915