People who worked long hours had a higher risk of stroke, especially if they worked those hours for 10 years or more, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.Long work hours associated with increased risk of stroke

In a new study, researchers received data from a French population-based study group started in 2012 that included 143,592 participants. Of those, 1,224 of them had suffered strokes in their lifetime, and 29 percent, or 42,542 of them, worked long hours.

The researchers identified 1,224 (0.9 percent) strokes among the 143,592 participants in the analyses. Overall, 29.6 and 10.1 percent of participants reported LWHs and LWHs for 10 years or more. There was a correlation for LWHs with an increased risk for stroke, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.29. A strong correlation was noted between being exposed to LWHs for 10 years or more and stroke, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.45. There were no differences between men and women in the correlation, which was stronger for white-collar workers aged younger than 50 years.

Researchers found:

• Overall 1,224 of the participants, suffered strokes;
• 29% or 42,542, reported working long hours;
• 10% or 14,481, reported working long hours for 10 years or more; and
• Participants working long hours had a 29% greater risk of stroke, and those working long hours for 10 years or more had a 45% greater risk of stroke.

Of the group that worked longer hours — which the study defined as working more than 10 hours for at least 50 days per year — 29 percent of those people had a greater risk of a stroke, and those that worked long hours for 10 years or more had a 45 percent greater risk of a stroke.

“I would also emphasize that many healthcare providers work much more than the definition of long working hours and may also be at higher risk of stroke,” Descatha said. “As a clinician, I will advise my patients to work more efficiently and plan to follow my own advice.”

(With inputs from Agencies)