The association between long working hours and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in older aged individuals: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2015

Objective: The objective of this study was to show the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level with working hours in different age groups. Methods: We used data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of variables for elevated hs-CRP (>3.0mg/L) were generated with logistic regression models. Significant variables were verified with an adjusted multivariate logistic model after stratification of age groups. Results: Working for more than 55 hours per week was associated with elevated hs-CRP level in the old-ages group (≥ 60 years old: OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.07 to 4.45). Working for 40 to 55 hours per week was associated with decreased hs-CRP in the young-ages group (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.93). Conclusion: Working hours appear to influence the levels of hs-CRP in individuals aged older than 60 years.