Study Notes Employed Adults Under 55 Have Decreased Heart Risk
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A new study indicated that among Americans under the age of 55, those who are employed may see diminished risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
In a study published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers looked at data from over 91,000 individuals between 2008 and 2012. After reviewing the data, researchers found that the overall rate of coronary heart disease and stroke among adults under the age of 55 was 2.8 percent. Employed adults had a below average rate of heart disease or stroke, with just a 1.9 percent prevalence. Unemployed adults were slightly higher at 2.5 percent, while adults not in the labor force had a 6.3 percent rate of such cardiovascular risks.
Men were determined to be more likely to have cardiovascular risks than women, and current and former smokers were more likely to suffer from heart disease or stroke than those who had never smoked. Workers with a college degree also had a lower risk of heart issues than those with less education.
The results of the study are limited by self-reporting. Researchers also note that the link between employment and heart risk is associative, and not necessarily a matter of cause and effect.
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