Effects of partial circadian adjustments on sleep and vigilance quality during simulated night work

Feb 15, 2012Journal of sleep research

How partial shifts in body clock affect sleep and alertness during simulated night work

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Abstract

Partial circadian adjustments may influence sleep and vigilance quality in night shift workers.

Small adjustments in circadian rhythms, achieved through phase delay or advance, were assessed for their impact on sleep and alertness.
Partial phase delays may help reduce sleep debt, while phase advances could enhance subjective alertness and mood during night work.
Absolute shifts in circadian timing, whether by advancing or delaying, were linked to improved subjective alertness and mood.
The effects observed were modest but statistically significant and warrant further investigation in real-world settings.

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In most situations, complete circadian adjustment is not recommended for night workers. With complete adjustment, workers experience circadian misalignment when returning on a day-active schedule, causing repeated circadian phase shifts and internal desynchrony. For this reason, partial circadian realignment was proposed as a good compromise to stabilize internal circadian rhythms in night shift workers. However, the extent of partial circadian adjustment necessary to improve sleep and vigilance quality is still a matter of debate. In this study, the effects of small but statistically significant partial circadian adjustments on sleep and vigilance quality were assessed in a laboratory simulation of night work to determine whether they were also of clinical significance. Partial adjustments obtained by phase delay or by phase advance were quantified not only by the phase shift of dim light salivary melatonin onset, but also by the overlap of the episode of melatonin production with the sleep-wake cycle adopted during simulated night work. The effects on daytime sleep and night-time vigilance quality were modest. However, they suggest that even small adjustments by phase delay may decrease the accumulation of sleep debt, whereas the advance strategy improves subjective alertness and mood during night work. Furthermore, absolute phase shifts, by advance or by delay, were associated with improved subjective alertness and mood during the night shift. These strategies need to be tested in the field, to determine whether they can be adapted to real-life situations and provide effective support to night workers.

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Effects of partial circadian adjustments on sleep and vigilance quality during simulated night work

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