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Fractions of cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders attributable to job strain

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate fractions of diseases attributable to job strain defined using Karasek’s model among the French working population for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), mental disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).

Methods

Job strain was defined as the combination of high psychological demands and low decision latitude. The prevalence of exposure (P e) was estimated using the representative national sample of 24,486 employees of the French SUMER survey. Relative risks (RR) were estimated from a literature review (1990–2008) using the same inclusion criteria for the three health outcomes. P e and RR estimates were used to calculate attributable fractions (AF).

Results

P e estimates were 19.6% for men, 28.2% for women, and 23.2% for men and women combined. The literature review led to a selection of 13 studies for CVD, 7 studies for mental disorders, and 11 studies for MSD. RR estimates were 0.63–2.45 for CVD (morbidity and mortality), 1.2–3.3 for mental disorders, and 0.94–2.3 for MSD. AF estimates for CVD morbidity were 4.9–21.5% for men, 0–15.9% for women, and 6.5–25.2% for men and women combined, for CVD mortality 7.9–21.5% for men, 2.5% for women, and 6.5–25.2% for men and women combined, for mental disorders 10.2–31.1% for men, 5.3–33.6% for women, and 6.5% for men and women combined, and for MSD 0–19.6% for men, 0–26.8% for women, and 3.4–19.9% for men and women combined.

Conclusion

This study is the first one to provide fractions of diseases attributable to job strain for three health outcomes in France on the basis of a systematic review of the literature. These results could contribute to the estimation of the economic cost of diseases attributable to job strain.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jean-François Chastang for his help with the data analysis of the SUMER survey, Anne-Marie Piketty and Boris Vieillard for their help with the search for bibliographic references, and the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions. This research was funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), France (convention no. 05-9-30).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Economie et Gestion (UMR CNRS 5118), Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France

    Hélène Sultan-Taïeb

  2. INSERM, U866, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France

    Catherine Lejeune

  3. UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science, University College Dublin, Woodview House, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland

    Anne Drummond & Isabelle Niedhammer

  4. INSERM, U1018, CESP Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Epidemiology of Occupational and Social Determinants of Health Team, Villejuif, France

    Isabelle Niedhammer

  5. Univ Paris-Sud, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France

    Isabelle Niedhammer

  6. Université de Versailles St-Quentin, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France

    Isabelle Niedhammer

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  1. Hélène Sultan-Taïeb
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  2. Catherine Lejeune
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Correspondence to Isabelle Niedhammer.

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Sultan-Taïeb, H., Lejeune, C., Drummond, A. et al. Fractions of cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders attributable to job strain. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84, 911–925 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0633-8

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