Occupational lifting and risk of hypertension, stratified by use of anti-hypertensives and age - a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study

Mette Korshøj,Harald Hannerz,Andreas Holtermann,Ruth Frikke-Schmidt,Els Clays,Peter Schnohr,Jacob L Marott

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-10651-w

Abstract

BackgroundHeavy occupational lifting is prevalent in the general working population and is sparsely reported to associate with hypertension, especially among older and hypertensive workers. We investigated if heavy occupational lifting is associated with hypertension and blood pressure (BP) in both cross-sectional and prospective study designs in the Copenhagen General Population Study, stratified by age, and use of anti-hypertensives.MethodsParticipation was conducted following the declaration of Helsinki and approved by the ethical committee (H-KF-01-144/01). By multivariable logistic and linear regression models, we investigated the association between heavy occupational lifting and hypertension, in a cross-sectional design (n = 67,363), using anti-hypertensives or BP ≥140/≥90 mmHg as outcome, and in a prospective design (n = 7020) with an above-median change in systolic BP (SBP) from baseline to follow-up and/or a shift from no use to use of anti-hypertensives as outcome, with and without stratification by age and use of anti-hypertensives.ResultsThe odds ratio for hypertension was estimated at 0.97 (99% CI: 0.93–1.00) in the cross-sectional analysis, and at 1.08 (99% CI: 0.98–1.19) in the prospective analysis. The difference in SBP among workers with versus without heavy occupational lifting was estimated at − 0.29 mmHg (99% CI -0.82 – 0.25) in the cross-sectional and at 1.02 mmHg (99% CI -0.41 – 2.45) in the prospective analysis. No significant interaction between heavy occupational lifting and age, nor use of anti-hypertensives were shown.ConclusionsOnly the prospective analysis indicated heavy occupational lifting to increase the risk of hypertension. Further research on the association between occupational lifting and hypertension are needed.

Highlights

Heavy occupational lifting is prevalent in the general working population and is sparsely reported to associate with hypertension, especially among older and hypertensive workers
Among occupational groups exposed to occupational lifting and high levels of occupational physical activity (OPA), a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness is suggested to lower the risk for cardiovascular mortality [12] by reducing the strain on the cardiovascular system [13]
Likewise, have differences in ambulatory blood pressure (BP) across sub-groups based on combinations of the level of OPA and Leisuretime physical activity (LTPA) been reported [6], which could be explained by the physical activity health paradox [14]

Summary

Introduction

Heavy occupational lifting is prevalent in the general working population and is sparsely reported to associate with hypertension, especially among older and hypertensive workers. We investigated if heavy occupational lifting is associated with hypertension and blood pressure (BP) in both cross-sectional and prospective study designs in the Copenhagen General Population Study, stratified by age, and use of anti-hypertensives. Are rising age and hypertension known to stiffen the arteries, contributing to endothelial damage, which may increase the total peripheral resistance and thereby BP [15, 16] These two factors potentially increase vulnerability to hazardous effects on BP from exposure to occupational lifting. To verify previous results, and to investigate the moderating effect from LTPA, we proposed this study aiming to explore associations between heavy occupational lifting and hypertension, stratified on the use of antihypertensives, LTPA, and age

Methods

Results

Conclusion