The study was led by researchers from University College London. They did a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual-level data examining the effects of longer working hours on cardiovascular disease.
Analysis of data from 25 studies involving 603,838 men and women from Europe, the United States and Australia, who were followed for an average of eight and a half years, found a 13 percent increased risk of incident coronary heart disease in people working 55 hours or more per week compared with those putting in a normal 35 to 40 hour week.
Meanwhile, analysis of data from 17 studies involving 528,908 men and women, who were followed up for an average of 7.2 years, found a 1.3 times higher risk of stroke in individuals working 55 hours or more a week compared with those working standard hours.
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
