Employment status and heart disease risk factors in middle-aged women: The Rancho Bernardo Study

Background. In recent years, an increasing number of women have been entering the labor force. It is known that in men, employment is related to heart disease risk, but there are few studies examining this association among women. Methods. The relation between employment status and heart disease risk factors including lipid and lipoprotein levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting and postchallenge plasma glucose and insulin levels, was examined in 242 women aged 40 to 59 years, who were participants in the Rancho Bernardo Heart and Chronic Disease Survey. At the time of a follow-up clinic visit between 1984 and 1987, 46.7% were employed, primarily in managerial positions. Results. Employed women smoked fewer cigarettes, drank less alcohol, and exercised more than unemployed women, but these differences were not statistically significant. After adjustment for covariates, employed women had significantly lower total cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose levels than unemployed women. Differences on other biological variables, although not statistically significant, also favored the employed women. Conclusions. Results of this study suggest that middle- aged women employed in managerial positions are healthier than unemployed women.