Sociomedical problems of overwork-related deaths and disorders in Japan

Abstract

Objectives Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases (CCVDs) and mental disorders, including suicide, are prevalent among overworked individuals in Japan. The 2014 legislation regarding the prevention of overwork‐related deaths and disorders has accelerated the research in this field and ultimately the implementation of preventive actions. Methods To understand the current problematic situations, the Research Center for Overwork‐Related Disorders of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan, conducted analyses of compensated claims for overwork‐related CCVDs and mental disorders that were recognized from January 2010 to March 2015. Results The majority of CCVD cases were the men in their 50s. Transport and postal activities was the highest risk industry. Cerebrovascular cases were higher than cardiovascular ones. Long working hours was the principal factor for CCVDs. The mental disorder cases comprised approximately 70% men and affected younger age groups (peak in the third decade) with various industries at risk. In men, there was an almost equal number of F3 (Mood [affective] disorders) and F4 (Neurotic, stress‐related, and somatoform disorders) diagnoses according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. A larger number of women were diagnosed to have F4. The mental disorder cases were associated not only with long working hours, but also with injuries and disasters as well as interpersonal conflict at work. Conclusions Multiple, simultaneous actions need to be made by employees, employers, researchers, and the authorities to achieve the goal of reducing the number of workers suffering from the overwork‐related CCVDs and mental disorders.

Overwork-related disorders in Japan: recent trends and development of a national policy to promote preventive measures

“…4-(a) and Fig. 4-(b)16 ) , among those who were determined to be compensated for having occupational CCVD and mental disorders between January 2010 and March 2015, 95.6% (1,495/1,564) of the compensated CCVD cases were male, whereas 68.7% (1,372/1,997) of the cases of compensated mental disorders were male.

Fig. 4-(a).

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“…5, 64.8% of compensated occupational CCVD cases were confirmed having overtime hours between 80 and 119 h per month prior to the onset of occupational CCVD. On the other hand, 38.3% of compensated cases of mental disorders were confirmed having overtime working hours of less than 60 h per month before the onset, and 17.2% were compensated due to work-related factors other than long working hours, including exposure to extremely stressful work events, such as severe sexual harassment/violence or accidents in the workplace16 ) .

Fig. 5.

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“…Tables 2 and 3 depict the distribution of compensated occupational CCVD and mental disorders, respectively, by gender and job area between January 2010 and March 201516 ) . Regarding occupational CCVD (Table 2), among men, 30.7% of compensated cases were in “transport and postal activities,” followed by “wholesale and retail trade” and “manufacturing.” In terms of compensated occupational mental disorders (Table 3), among men, “manufacturing” had the largest number of compensated workers, followed by “wholesale and retail trade” and “transport and postal activities.” Notably, among women, 28.8% of compensated cases of occupational mental disorders were in “medical, health and welfare.” As suggested in previous literature17 ) , female healthcare professionals, such as nurses in mental health care or caregivers for the elderly, may be more frequently exposed to work-related traumatic events, such as physical assaults and violence from patients and service users.…”

“…Table 4 shows the distribution of diagnoses among compensated cases of occupational CCVD by gender between January 2010 and March 201516 ) . While 60.5% of male compensated cases had been diagnosed as having cerebrovascular diseases, particularly intracerebral hemorrhage, 91.3% of female compensated cases had been diagnosed having cerebrovascular diseases.…”

“…Table 5 summarizes the distribution of diagnoses among compensated cases of occupational mental disorders by gender between January 2010 and March 201516 ) . Notably, 59.7% of male compensated cases had been diagnosed as having mood (affective) disorders.…”