Is the effort-reward imbalance associated with hypertension among Brazilian civil servants? Results from the ELSA-Brasil study

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the association between job stress, according to the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, and hypertension (HTN), as well as to investigate the effect modifier role of overcommitment (OC) and sex. Methods: cross-sectional analysis of data from active workers who participated in the second data collection wave (2012-2014) of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Job stress was measured by the ERI scale - Brazilian version, comprising three dimensions: effort, reward, and OC. HTN was defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure levels ≥ 140/90 mmHg or antihypertensive medication use. Associations were estimated by logistic regression, crude and adjusted for potential confounding factors. Multiplicative interactions were investigated. Results: a total of 9,465 civil servants participated in the study, 51.9% females. HTN prevalence was 34.9%. The adjusted model identified borderline associations between ERI (ratio > 1) and higher OC with higher odds of HTN (OR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.00; 1.24; and OR = 1.13; 95%CI = 1.01; 1.26, respectively). Interaction analysis indicated no differences in associations according to sex and OC. Conclusion: results show that ERI and OC are associated with higher odds of HTN after adjustment. Sex and OC were not effect modifiers.