Stress ups premature death risk in middle-aged employees

A new study has found that middle-aged workers who suffer stress at work are at greater risk of dying prematurely.

An inability to keep up with the demands of a job could lead to poor health in old age, the Daily Express reported.

Researchers from Finland's University of Jyvaskyla followed 6,000 public sector workers for 28 years.

Dr Mikaela von Bonsdorff said that the poor work ability of middle-aged employees can be considered an early warning sign of a decline in functioning in old age.

Mental and physical job strain in midlife were related to an increased need for hospital care and premature mortality, the researcher said.

Adjusting work demands could halt or slow the rate of decline, the study concluded.