Occupational class and coronary heart disease risk in young women

Background and Objective: CHD is the leading cause of death among women in the US. The mortality rate from CHD among young women has been increasing, as well as the number of women in the US labor workforce. Studies have shown that women in certain occupations and low occupational class are at increased risk for CHD. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between occupational class and CHD risk factors in young women age 20 to 39 years old. Methods: This was a quantitative, cross sectional study using data from the NHANES. The estimated prevalence of each risk factor was calculated and logistic regression was used to analyze the association between occupational class and CHD risk factors. In addition, the Framingham Point Score calculator was used to estimate the 10-year risk of CHD, and chi square test was used to see if there was a significant relationship in 10-year CHD risk and occupational class. Results: Results of logistic regression indicated that the odds of hyperglycemia was significantly higher for blue collar workers compared to white collar workers. The odds of the other risk factors were not statistically significant. Majority of women had a low 10-year CHD risk, and there is a possible significant relationship between occupational class and 10-year CHD risk. Conclusion: Young women need to be educated about healthy lifestyle choices and lifestyle modifications. Health care providers and employers can play a significant role in the prevention of CHD in young women.