doubles heart attack risk
Involuntary job loss near retirement more than doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke, researchers at the School of Medicine report in a major national study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The results are based on 10-year observations of 4,301 individuals between ages 51 and 61, of whom 582 had lost their jobs during that period. The study is the extension of an earlier study, in which the same sample was tracked for six years.That research indicated heightened risk of stroke, but not a definitive link between job loss and heart attacks.
"With longer follow-up and heart attack and stroke events, we were able to better assess the association between employment separation and the medical outcomes," says William T. Gallo, the lead author of the study and associate research scientist in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the School of Medicine.
The researchers used 10 years of data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Survey in their research. Starting with a sample of employed individuals, they identified 582 workers who were either laid off or left jobless because of a business closing. The study compared their risk of heart attack and stroke to a group that included 3,719 workers who remained employed. In considering the effect of job loss, the researchers also took into account other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and depressive symptoms.
"Job loss is associated with a range of stressful outcomes, including loss of pay and non-wage benefits, limited access to medical care, and severance of identification and work-based social support," says Gallo. "Older individuals could be at increased risk for stress after being let go from work. We know that workers over 50 may have difficulty finding new positions, which frequently offer lower compensation than the pre-separation job did. This can obviously affect their later pension amount."
Gallo says that physicians who treat individuals who lose jobs as they approach retirement should consider the loss of employment a credible risk factor for adverse vascular health changes. Similarly, policy makers should also be aware of the risks of job loss, so that intervention programs can be implemented to ease the multiple burdens of unemployment.
Co-author Elizabeth Bradley says, "We do a lot of downsizing in our country and older individuals are often affected. We need to recognize not only the economic consequences, but also the health consequences."
In addition to Gallo and Bradley, Yale co-authors include Hsun-Mei Teng, Tracy Falba, Stanislav Kasl and Harlan Krumholz.
-- By Karen Peart
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
SOM gets largest single donation in its 30-year history
Program to boost conservation in developing world
Study: Job loss near retirement doubles heart attack risk
Union, management working together . . .
Yale pledges full cooperation in federal review
School of Nursing to launch Ph.D. program
In honor of family's gift, facility has been renamed . . .
Students work to enrich Elm City on summer fellowship
MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWS
Yale leading national study on causes of meningioma
Placenta may hold key to early diagnosis of autism
Belitsky named as education dean; Ment to oversee admissions
Radiotherapy may benefit some lung cancer patients
Guidelines aim to preserve fertility in cancer patients
Mental health coverage may be financially feasible
Study calls for reforms in patient transfer protocols
Study: Survival rate poor in patients with kidney disease . . .
Sindelar named ASHE president
'To Know the Dark' exhibit features American artists' visions of the night
Study: Self-esteem a major factor in love-hate relationships
Pilot Pen Tennis tournament to debut instant replay technology
Library exhibit marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of . . .
Evidence of ultra-energetic particles found in jet from black hole
In YSN study, Iraqi nurses cite a need for new hospitals . . .
Northeast's mercury levels linked to power plant activity
SurExam in China to commercialize blood test for ovarian cancer
Oncolys BioPharma in Tokyo to develop novel anti-HIV treatment
Rudd Center's new blog encourages discussion of food-related issues
This New House
Vladimir Rokhlin honored by the IEEE for his invention
Olympian swimmer Mike Austin donates his gold medal to Yale
Acclaimed director Lloyd Richards, nurtured new playwrights
Yale chemistry student chosen by DOE to meet with Nobel laureates
Chinese archivists to meet with Yale librarians
Yale Books in Brief
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home