Stress, sleep, and cardiovascular risk in police officers: A scoping review

Introduction: Law enforcement workers are generally considered to be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This review aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in police officers, focusing on issues related to stress and sleep. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Medline and Scopus databases and following the guidelines for scoping literature reviews. Eight studies were included, seven with a cross-sectional design and one longitudinal study, which revealed an association between occupational stress, sleep disturbances, metabolic factors, and cardiovascular risk. Results: Specifically, sleep duration and quality were associated with metabolic syndrome. Occupational stress factors, such as psychosocial burden and required effort, were predictive of metabolic syndrome. Discussion: A strategy for managing cardiovascular risk in law enforcement workers was proposed, including health promotion activities within ongoing occupational health surveillance programs to prevent work-related risks.