Study: Working long hours kills hundreds of thousands annually

The World Health Organization said on Monday that working long hours kills hundreds of thousands of people annually, in a trend that is getting worse and may accelerate even more due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

In the first global study of long-hour work-related deaths, a research paper published in the journal Environment International showed that 745,000 people died of a stroke or heart disease associated with long hours in 2016.

The rate of increase was nearly 30 percent over the year 2000.

"Working 55 hours or more per week represents a severe risk to health," said Maria Neira, director of the organization's environment, climate change and health department.

"We want to use this information to promote more action, more protection for workers," she added.

The joint study prepared by the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization indicated that most of the victims (72%) were men and were middle-aged or older.

The study also stated that the people most affected are those who live in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Region, which includes China, Japan and Australia.

The study, which was based on data from 194 countries, said that working 55 hours or more per week was associated with a 35 percent increased risk of stroke and a 17 percent increased risk of dying from heart disease, compared to those who worked 35 to 40 hours a week.

The study covered the period between 2000 and 2016, and therefore it does not include the Covid-19 pandemic, but WHO officials said that the increase in work from home and the slowdown in the global economy resulting from the emergency due to the Corona virus may increase the risks.