Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohort

Abstract Backgrounds This study aims to examine whether long working hours, repeatedly assessed at midlife, is associated with higher arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective study of white-collar workers in Quebec City, Canada. Methods This study relied on a prospective cohort, init...

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Main Authors: Carolina Braga Sisti, Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet, Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud, Chantal Brisson, Alain Milot, Xavier Trudel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22954-3
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author Carolina Braga Sisti
Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet
Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud
Chantal Brisson
Alain Milot
Xavier Trudel
author_facet Carolina Braga Sisti
Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet
Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud
Chantal Brisson
Alain Milot
Xavier Trudel
author_sort Carolina Braga Sisti
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Backgrounds This study aims to examine whether long working hours, repeatedly assessed at midlife, is associated with higher arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective study of white-collar workers in Quebec City, Canada. Methods This study relied on a prospective cohort, initiated in 1991–1993 (T1) with two follow-ups after 8 years (T2, 1999–2001) and 24 years (T3, 2015–2018). Participants (N = 1,629, 51.3% women, mean age 37 ± 6.4 at T1) were randomly selected for arterial stiffness measurement at T3 using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Long working hours (> 40 h/week) were assessed at T1 and T2. Mean differences in PWV were estimated using generalized linear models, accounting for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle-related risk factors, clinical factors and psychosocial stressors at work. Results Among participants who remained actively employed over the study period (age range: 21–59 at T1), long working hours at T1 were associated with a + 0.54 m/s (95% CI: 0.05; 1.02) increase in PWV, while repeated exposure at T1 and T2 was associated with a + 1.50 m/s (95% CI: 0.78; 2.21) increase. No association was observed among participants who retired between T2 and T3. Conclusion The present study suggests that exposure to long working hours during midlife is associated with higher arterial stiffness, among aging workers. Workplace preventive strategies reducing long working hours may be effective to mitigate long-term arterial stiffening.
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spelling doaj-art-8e1eabd0401e43fd9f8b52f2c3339f6d2025-08-20T02:25:16ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-012511910.1186/s12889-025-22954-3Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohortCarolina Braga Sisti0Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet1Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud2Chantal Brisson3Alain Milot4Xavier Trudel5Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval UniversityCentre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université LavalCentre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université LavalDepartment of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval UniversityCentre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université LavalDepartment of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval UniversityAbstract Backgrounds This study aims to examine whether long working hours, repeatedly assessed at midlife, is associated with higher arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective study of white-collar workers in Quebec City, Canada. Methods This study relied on a prospective cohort, initiated in 1991–1993 (T1) with two follow-ups after 8 years (T2, 1999–2001) and 24 years (T3, 2015–2018). Participants (N = 1,629, 51.3% women, mean age 37 ± 6.4 at T1) were randomly selected for arterial stiffness measurement at T3 using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Long working hours (> 40 h/week) were assessed at T1 and T2. Mean differences in PWV were estimated using generalized linear models, accounting for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle-related risk factors, clinical factors and psychosocial stressors at work. Results Among participants who remained actively employed over the study period (age range: 21–59 at T1), long working hours at T1 were associated with a + 0.54 m/s (95% CI: 0.05; 1.02) increase in PWV, while repeated exposure at T1 and T2 was associated with a + 1.50 m/s (95% CI: 0.78; 2.21) increase. No association was observed among participants who retired between T2 and T3. Conclusion The present study suggests that exposure to long working hours during midlife is associated with higher arterial stiffness, among aging workers. Workplace preventive strategies reducing long working hours may be effective to mitigate long-term arterial stiffening.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22954-3Occupational stressWork environmentArterial stiffnessCardiovascular disease
spellingShingle Carolina Braga Sisti
Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet
Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud
Chantal Brisson
Alain Milot
Xavier Trudel
Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohort
BMC Public Health
Occupational stress
Work environment
Arterial stiffness
Cardiovascular disease
title Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohort
title_full Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohort
title_fullStr Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohort
title_full_unstemmed Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohort
title_short Long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24-year prospective cohort
title_sort long working hours at midlife and arterial stiffness at older age in a 24 year prospective cohort
topic Occupational stress
Work environment
Arterial stiffness
Cardiovascular disease
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22954-3
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