WHO: Working overtime kills hundreds of thousands people every year

In 2016, high workloads caused at least 745,000 deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

Since then, the number of deaths due to overtime work has continued to grow, and the pandemic, according to experts, could only exacerbate this problem.

For the first time, WHO experts have conducted a global analysis of the loss of life and health due to overtime work. They conducted two systematic reviews that included 37 studies of coronary heart disease with 768,000 participants and 22 studies with over 339,000 participants. The analysis also includes data from over 2,300 surveys conducted in 154 countries.

According to Medportal.ru, studies have shown that in 2016, 398,000 people died from strokes and 347,000 from cardiovascular diseases, and these conditions were caused by working at least 55 hours a week. Between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths from heart disease as a result of long-term work increased by 42%, from stroke - by 19%.

According to experts, 72% of deaths due to long-term work occur in male patients.

The study authors concluded that working 55 hours a week or more was associated with an increased risk of stroke by 35% and 17% more likely to die from coronary heart disease, compared with 35-40 hours of work. The number of people who agree to work overtime is increasing and currently accounts for 9% of the total population worldwide.

According to scientists, the COVID-19 pandemic could increase these rates due to the fact that many people have switched to remote work, which often blurs the lines between home and work responsibilities.

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