Non-Medical Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) conditions of workers have an impact on their productivity causing the costs for the employers. Having considered the fact that CVDs are the number one reason for deaths all over the world, the fact that there are psychosocial, metabolic, physical and behavioural risk factors that are noticed to be present in people with severe CVD conditions, and the fact that if the proper actions towards CVD risk factors are made, the majority of CVD severe conditions can be avoided, I pose the following research question: to what extent do various CVD risk factors influence the health state of working-age people? The method that I use to find an answer to the research question is a meta-analysis. The findings of this paper are the following: current smokers have the odds of a CVD event occurring a 124% higher compared to non-smokers. No association between the CVD risk factor alcohol intake and a CVD event was found. The odds of getting a CVD event increase on 43% for people with obesity, and there is a 32% increase in odds of getting a CVD event for people who experience permanent stress and negative life events comparing to people who do not experience permanent stress and negative life events. The results of the thesis are expected to be useful for creating recommendations for employers regarding preventive measures that can help decrease costs associated with employee’s cardiovascular disease conditions.