Cardiovascular risk factors and primary selection into shift work

2870 newly educated social and health care workers were assessed for cardiovascular risk factors before starting different work schedules.

• Baseline obesity was linked to fixed evening work at follow-up.
• Minimal or light-to-moderate leisure-time physical activity was associated with a lower odds ratio for two or three shifts that included night work.
• Smoking status was related to fixed evening work, fixed night work, and two- or three-shift work including night work.
• After accounting for sociodemographic factors and general self-efficacy, smoking was prospectively associated with fixed evening work and fixed night work.
• Being an ex-smoker was significantly associated with two- or three-shift work that included night work.
• The link between two- and three-shift work and smoking was of borderline significance.

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