A 12-year follow-up study of 7,320 people revealed that people who work standing jobs have roughly twice the risk of heart disease

Introduction

Many studies have been conducted on the adverse health effects of long periods of sitting due to desk work. However, the effects of standing work on cardiovascular disease have not been fully studied. The study from Ontario, Canada, introduced here, revealed the relationship between standing work and the risk of developing heart disease through a 12-year follow-up survey.

Research Overview

The study was conducted by linking data from the 2003 Canadian Health Survey (CCHS) with health insurance information. The subjects were 7,320 workers (50% male and 50% female) working 15 hours or more per week in Ontario, Canada, who had no history of heart disease at the start of the study. The study classified the workers' main occupational postures (sitting, standing, walking, etc.), and analyzed the incidence of heart disease through a 12-year follow-up survey.

Main findings

1. Workers who work in standing jobs have about twice the risk of heart disease compared to those who work in sitting jobs
   • It was found that people whose occupations primarily involve standing had a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease than people whose occupations involved sitting (hazard ratio = 2.18).
   • Even when taking into account weight and lifestyle habits (smoking, exercise, etc.), the risk of heart disease remained higher for those working in a standing job.
2. Occupations that combine sitting, standing, and walking have different effects on men and women
   • Among men, those whose occupations involved a combination of sitting, standing, and walking tended to have a lower risk of heart disease (hazard ratio = 0.61).
   • On the other hand, the risk tended to be higher in women (hazard ratio = 1.80).
   • This difference may be due to differences in the type of occupation, work content, and work environment factors.
3. How standing for long periods of time increases the risk of heart disease
   • When you stand for a long period of time, blood may stagnate in the legs, causing increased venous pressure.
   • This puts strain on the cardiovascular system and may increase the risk of heart disease by increasing oxidative stress.

Table 1: Incidence of heart disease by occupational position

overview

This table compares the 12-year incidence of heart disease for four categories of work: sitting, standing, a combination of sitting, standing and walking, and other positions.

Key Points

• People who work in standing jobs have a higher incidence of heart disease than those who work in sitting jobs (6.59% vs. 2.82%).
• In occupations that involve a combination of sitting, standing, and walking, the risk tends to decrease for men but increase for women .
• Occupations that involve a lot of work classified as "other postures" (e.g. bending, squatting) also pose a higher risk than sedentary jobs.

Table 2: Hazard ratios (HRs) for heart disease risk

overview

This table shows the risk of developing heart disease by occupation (hazard ratio: HR) and compares the differences across four models (basic adjustments - taking into account the effects of health status and lifestyle).

Key Points

• The hazard ratio (HR) for standing work was 2.18 (model 3: adjusted for health and socioeconomic factors).
• Even in a model that took into account BMI and health habits (smoking, drinking, and exercise) (Model 4), the HR for standing jobs was still high at 1.97.
• **For jobs that combine sitting, standing, and walking, the HR was 0.61 (decreased risk) for men and 1.80 (increased risk) for women, showing significant gender differences.

Table 3: Risk of heart disease by gender

overview

Hazard ratios are shown comparing the effects of sitting, standing, and walking by gender.

Key Points

• The risk (HR) for standing work was similar for men and women (2.01 vs. 1.86) .
• A job that combined sitting, standing, and walking was associated with a lower risk for men (HR = 0.61) and an increased risk for women (HR = 1.80) .
• It is possible that men may be more likely to reduce their risk by having more active jobs.

Measures to improve the work environment

The results of this study suggest that prolonged standing at work may have a negative impact on cardiovascular health. Therefore, the following improvements to the workplace are required:

• Increasing opportunities to sit down
  • Provide a rest area where employees can sit for a short time between standing tasks.
  • Install height-adjustable desks to allow employees to alternate between sitting and standing.
• Measures to reduce strain on the feet
  • Use cushioned flooring and appropriate footwear.
  • To improve blood flow to your legs, use simple stretches and steps that get your legs moving while you work.
• Promoting business diversification
  • Change the work you do at regular intervals to increase the opportunities to adopt different postures.
  • By making it possible for some tasks to be performed in a seated position, the burden on the body can be distributed.

summary

This study showed that standing for long periods of time at work may increase the risk of heart disease. On the other hand, it also became clear that the risk can be reduced by combining sitting, standing, and walking. In order to create a healthy work environment, it is important to actively adopt measures to reduce the burden of standing work.