Multiple forms of perceived job discrimination and hypertension risk among employed women: Findings from the Sister Study

Background

Hypertension has been linked to socially patterned stressors, including discrimination. Few studies have quantified the risk of hypertension associated with exposure to perceived job discrimination.

Methods

We used prospective cohort data from the Sister Study (enrollment from 2003–2009) to estimate self-reported incident hypertension associated with perceived job discrimination based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or health status. Job discrimination in the prior 5 years was assessed in 2008–2012, and incident doctor-diagnosed hypertension was ascertained in previously hypertension-free participants.

Results

Among the 16,770 eligible participants aged 37–78 years at the start of follow-up, 10.5% reported job discrimination in the past 5 years, and 19.2% (n = 3226) reported incident hypertension during a median follow-up of 9.7 years (interquartile range 8.2–11.0 years). Self-reported poor health or inclusion in minoritized groups based on race/ethnicity or sexual orientation were more frequent among those reporting job discrimination. In a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for covariates, report of at least one type of job discrimination (compared to none) was associated with a 14% (hazard ratio = 1.14 [95% confidence: 1.02–1.27]) higher hypertension risk. Results from sensitivity analyses reinforced the findings.

Conclusions

Results suggest that interventions addressing job discrimination could have workplace equity and health benefits.