Long Working Hours Increasing Deaths From Heart Disease & Stroke: WHO, ILO Study
-World Health Organization, International Labour Organization: Joint News Release, May 17, 2021. - Ed.
Long working hours led to 745,000 deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease in 2016, a 29% increase since 2000, according to the latest estimates by the WHO and the ILO published in Environment International today. In a 1st global analysis of the loss of life and health associated with working long hours, WHO and ILO estimate that, in 2016, 398,000 people died from stroke, and 347,000 from heart disease, as a result of having worked at least 55 hours a week.
- Between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths from heart disease due to working long hours increased by 42%, and from stroke by 19%.
- This work-related disease burden is particularly significant in men (72% of deaths occurred among males), people living in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions, and middle-aged or older workers.
- Most of the deaths recorded were among people dying aged 60-79 years, who had worked for 55 hours or more per week between the ages of 45 and 74 years.
*With working long hours now known to be responsible for about 1/3rd of the total estimated work-related burden of disease, it is established as the risk factor with the largest occupational disease burden. This shifts thinking towards a relatively new and more psychosocial occupational risk factor to human health. The study concludes that,
- working 55 or more hours per week is associated with an estimated 35% higher risk of a stroke, and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease-- compared to working 35-40 hours a week.
Further, the number of people working long hours is increasing, and currently stands at 9% of the total population globally. This trend puts even more people at risk of work-related disability and early death.
The new analysis comes as the COVID-19 Pandemic shines a spotlight on managing working hours; - the pandemic is accelerating developments that could feed the trend towards increased working time. - “The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the way many people work,“ said the WHO Director-General. Teleworking has become the norm in many industries, often blurring the boundaries between home and work.
Many businesses have been forced to scale back or shut down operations to save money, and people who are still on the payroll end up working longer hours.
- No job is worth the risk of stroke or heart disease. "Governments, employers and workers need to work together to agree on limits to protect the health of workers.” “Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard,” added Dr. Maria Neira...
More, https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2021-long-working-hours-increasing-deaths-from-heart-disease-and-stroke-who-ilo
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- 'Long working hrs. killing 745,000 people a year, study finds,' BBC, May 17, 2021.
Long working hours are killing hundreds of thousands of people a year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The first global study of its kind showed 745,000 people died in 2016 from stroke and heart disease due to long hours..
- The research found that working 55 hours or more a week was associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from heart disease, compared with a working week of 35 to 40 hours..
- Often, the deaths occurred much later in life, sometimes decades later, than the long hours were worked. While recovering from his heart-attack, Mr Frostick decided to restructure his approach to work. "I'm not spending all day on Zoom anymore," he said. His post struck a chord with hundreds of readers, who shared their experiences of overwork and the impact on their health...
More, https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57139434