Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The object of this study was to indentify characteristics of cardiovascular disease in the employed population in comparson with the non-employed group.
METHODS
The study subjects were patients aged 20~65 from 3 university based hospital emergency centers and a structured questionnaire were used for comparing the characteristics of cardiovascular disease according to employment status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between employment status and cardiovascular disease risk factors.
RESULTS
Among the patients, 573 people were employed (482 males, 91 females) and 251 were non-employed (117 males, 134 females). Compared to the non-employed group, the employed group was distinctive in that it contained patients of younger age, had a male dominant gender distribution, and a higher proportion of smoking and drinking patients. The employed group was less likely to be previously-diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease, or cerebrovascular disease. The employed group was generally more stressed out but there was no significant differences in sleeping time. Infarction was more frequent in the employed group, but hemorrhage was more frequent in the non-employed group. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis results, the odds ratio of drinking and stress was 1.89(95% CI: 1.25~2.86) and 2.68(95% CI: 1.80~3.99) respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Infarction was more frequent in the employed group. Drinking and stress were also more frequent in the employed group. The results of this study don't necessarily mean that stress and drinking are more important than other risk factors but, it means stress and drinking control are more important in the employed group compared to the non-employed group.

• Keywords: Cardiovascular disease;Stress;Alcohol;Employment