Promoting safe work environments to minimize cardiovascular risk

To the Editor,Cardiovascular risk in workplace settings refers to the probability that employees will develop cardiovascular conditions due to a combination of traditional health attributes and work-related exposures1. The transition toward sedentary occupations, prolonged screen exposure, algorithm-driven productivity expectations, and irregular work schedules have made many modern workplace settings contributors to the development of cardiovascular risk1. Workers with poor heart health are more likely to be absent or underperform due to reduced stamina or medication side effects, and this was highlighted in a systematic review, which concluded that workplace cardiovascular prevention programs can play a crucial role in improving functioning and reducing productivity losses2. The results of a recent systematic review showed that psychological stressors (such as high job strain, long working hours, lack of rewards, etc.) augment cardiovascular risk, and that actions taken to minimize these stressors improve morale, engagement, and relationships in the workplace3.Workplace-associated cardiovascular risk is no longer limited to isolated occupational exposures, rather, it arises from the interaction between psychosocial stressors, sedentary work culture, circadian rhythm disruption, environmental hazards, and unhealthy organizational practices2-7. The primary concern is the presence of classical cardiovascular risk factors (like hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, use of tobacco in any form, etc.) which employees might already have, which gets worsened further due to the workplace atmosphere3,4. In a cross-sectional study done among bank employees in Iran, 26.2% of the study participants were found to be suffering from metabolic syndrome, with older age, male sex, and managerial positions identified as significant factors4. The next concern is the presence of various psychosocial risk factors in the workplace, such as chronic job stress, high expectations, burnout, and emotional exhaustion5. A subsequent workplace-related risk is work schedules (such as long working hours, shift work, night duties, etc.), resulting in insufficient or fragmented sleep and increase the risk of hypertension, arrhythmia, and obesity6.