Work-related psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hisashi Eguchi; Kazuhiro Watanabe; Norito Kawakami; Emiko Ando; Kotaro Imamura; Asuka Sakuraya; Natsu Sasaki; Akiomi Inoue; Kanami Tsuno; Yasumasa Otsuka; Reiko Inoue; Norimitsu Nishida; Mai Iwanaga; Ayako Hino; Akihito Shimazu; Akizumi Tsutsumi

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111349

Work-related psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

J Psychosom Res. 2023 Jul:170:111349. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111349. Epub 2023 May 2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan.
² Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitazato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan.
³ Department of Digital Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
⁴ Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center Japan, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.
⁵ Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
⁶ Institutional Research Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan.
⁷ School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services, 3-25-10 Tono-machi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 210-0821, Japan.
⁸ Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 3-29-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0012, Japan.
⁹ Nidec Corporation, 338 Kuzetonoshiro-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8205, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
¹¹ Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan.
¹² Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitazato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan. Electronic address: akizumi@kitasato-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 37187013
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111349

Abstract

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prospective effect of adverse work-related psychosocial factors on increases in inflammatory markers.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society database. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they examined associations between work-related psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and C-reactive protein), used longitudinal or prospective cohort designs, were conducted among workers, were original articles written in English or Japanese, and were published up to 2017 for the first search, October 2020 for the second, and November 2022 for the third. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to assess the pooled effect size for the associations. A meta-regression analysis was used to estimate the association between length of follow-up and effect size. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias.

Results: Of the 11,121 studies identified in the first search, 29,135 studies from the second, and 9448 studies from the third, eleven were eligible for this review and meta-analysis. The pooled coefficient between adverse work-related psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers was significant and positive (β = 0.014, 95% confidence interval: 0.005-0.023). However, a clear association was only observed for interleukin-6, and all the studies included had serious risks of bias. Meta-regression showed the effect size decreased depending on the follow-up period.

Conclusion: This study revealed a weak positive association between adverse work-related psychosocial factors and increases in inflammatory markers.

Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD42018081553 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=81553).

Keywords: C-reactive protein; Interleukin-6; Meta-analysis; Psychosocial factor; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Workplace.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Interleukin-6*
Japan
Prospective Studies

Substances

Interleukin-6