The aim of the study was to evaluate, if job strain was associated to coronary risk independently of social status.

One thousand and forty-nine actively employed men and women participated in the study. The participation rate was 63%. They filled in two questionnaires on health and working conditions and went through a medical examination including measurements of height, weight, blood pressure and the drawing of a venous blood sample for determination of serum lipids, glucose and fibrinogen. Independent variables in the study were psychosocial characteristics of the jobs of the participants including indications of conflicts, support and social relations at work, job satisfaction and security as well as socioeconomic status. High job strain was defined as the combination of self-assesed high demands and low control at work. Social status was measured on a 5-point scale. The outcome variables were angina pectoris, assessed according to the Rose & Blackburn questionnaire method and a coronary risk score based on the presence of high blood pressure, elevated se-cholestrol, smoking, heridity, over- weight and gender.
Thirty-five cases of questionnaire positive angina pectoris were identified. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed a significant association (OR=2.3, p=0.02) between high job strain and questionnaire positive angina pectoris independently of coronary risk factors. Both the control and the demand dimension contributed to the association. Entering social network and social status into the analysis did not change the strength of the association. Working more than 41 hours a week (OR=2.0) and few social relations (OR=1.8) were borderline associated to questionnaire positive angina pectoris. High coronary risk score was significantly associated with low social status, long working hours and high job strain. The demand variable was independently associated to high risk score.