Big jump in number of deaths linked to long working hours

The number of people dying as a result of working long hours has jumped significantly in recent years.

According to the latest estimates, long working hours led to 745,000 deaths from stroke and ischaemic heart disease in 2016 – a 29% increase since 2000.

The figures were based on the first global analysis of the loss of life and health linked with working long hours. The analysis was carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

It included data from 37 studies on ischaemic heart disease involving over 768,000 people, and 22 studies on stroke involving over 839,000 people.

The analysis estimated that in 2016, 398,000 people died from stroke as a result of having worked at least 55 hours per week. Some 347,000 people also died as a result of heart disease for the same reason.

The WHO and ILO found that between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths from heart disease due to working long hours increased by 42%, and from stroke by 19%.

They also found that this work-related disease burden was particularly significant in men, with 72% of all deaths occurring in males. It was also more commonly found in middle-aged and older workers. Most of the deaths were among people aged between 60 and 79, who had worked for at least 55 hours per week between the ages of 45 and 74.

The analysis concluded that compared to working 35-40 hours per week, working 55 hours or more per week is linked with an estimated 35% increased risk of a stroke and a 17% increased risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease.

The WHO and ILO also noted that the number of people working long hours is on the rise, currently standing at 9% of the total population worldwide.

It explained that working long hours increases the risk of stroke and ischaemic heart disease in two main ways:

-Physiological – working long hours can lead to an excessive release of stress hormones (e.g. adrenalin, noradrenalin and cortisol), which can trigger reactions in the cardiovascular system, such as high blood pressure, and lesions that cause a change in tissue, such as the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries of coronary vessels

-Behavioural – long hours may lead to tobacco use, alcohol use, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and poor sleep, all of which are risk factors for stroke and heart disease.

“Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard. It’s time that we all - governments, employers, and employees - wake up to the fact that long working hours can lead to premature death,” commented Dr Maria Neira, director of the WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.

The WHO also expressed concern that the Covid pandemic may be leading to more people working longer hours.

“The pandemic has significantly changed the way many people work. Teleworking has become the norm in many industries, often blurring the boundaries between home and work. In addition, 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,” commented WHO director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Environment International.