Job Stress and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein as an Indicator of Chronic Inflammation among LG Electronics Company Workers in Ismailia City

Background: Occupational stress has become issue of great concern over the last decade, both internationally and nationally. Objectives: The current study was conducted to determine the prevalence of the job stress among LG Electronics Company workers in Ismailia city, Egypt. Furthermore, it explored the relationship between job stress and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations as indicator of chronic inflammation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in LG Electronics Company in Ismailia city. A total of 264 workers were included. All of them were males. A structured interview questionnaire measuring the sociodemographic characteristics, work characteristics, assessment of the job stress using Job Content Questionnaire was used. C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was measured as an indicator of chronic inflammation. Results: The prevalence of high job strain in Electronics Company workers was 33.7%. Electronics workers in high strain group were significantly younger in age (28.74±4.87 years) compared to those in non high strain group (30.43±5.42 years), (p 0.05). Workers in high strain group had significantly shorter duration of employment (5.94±2.43 years) as compared to those in non high strain group (7.75±4.96 years) with p 0.05. There was statistically significant association between social support and high job stress (p 0.01) with 65% of high strain workers got low social support from others. In current study, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations were increased in high strain workers (median= 1. 1 0mg/dl); but this increase was not statistically significant (p=0.056) compared to non high strain workers (median=0.95mg/dl). Conclusion: A high proportion of electronics workers experienced high job strain and several factors in the workplace posed significant relationships with job strain in these workers.