Different exposure metrics of rotating night shift work and hyperhomocysteinaemia among Chinese steelworkers: a cross-sectional study

Dec 16, 2020BMJ open

Links between different measures of rotating night shift work and high homocysteine levels in Chinese steelworkers

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Abstract

Current night shift workers have an elevated odds of (OR 1.23).

A duration of night shifts greater than 28 years is associated with increased odds of hyperhomocysteinaemia (OR 1.35).
Working more than 7 nights per month is linked to higher odds of hyperhomocysteinaemia (OR 1.25).
Spending more than 30% of work hours on night shifts is associated with increased odds of hyperhomocysteinaemia (OR 1.23).
The increased odds of hyperhomocysteinaemia are noted regardless of average night shift length exceeding 8 hours.
No significant association with hyperhomocysteinaemia was observed among female workers in relation to night shift exposure metrics.

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OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of rotating night shift work with (HHcy) odds by different exposure metrics.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Occupational physical examination centre for steel production workers, Tangshan, China.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6846 steelworkers, aged 22-60 years, from the baseline survey of a Chinese occupational cohort.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Different exposure metrics of night shift work, including current shift status, duration of night shifts (years), cumulative number of night shifts (nights), cumulative length of night shifts (hours), average frequency of night shifts (nights/month), average length of night shifts (hours/night) and percentage of hours on night shifts, were used to examine the effects of past and current night shift work on HHcy odds. The total homocysteine concentration in the plasma above 15 µmol/L was defined as HHcy.

RESULTS: Compared with those who never worked night shifts, current night shift workers had elevated odds of HHcy (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.44). Considering a person's lifetime work schedule and compared with individuals who never worked night shifts, duration of night shifts >28 years (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.61), average frequency of night shifts >7 nights/month (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.47) and percentage of hours on night shifts >30% (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.43) were associated with higher HHcy odds. The duration of night shifts >20 years and the average frequency of night shifts >7 nights/month could significantly increase the odds of HHcy regardless of whether the average length of night shifts was greater than 8 hours/night. After stratification by sex, no significant association was found in female workers between different exposure metrics of night shift work and HHcy.

CONCLUSIONS: Long duration and high frequency of night shift work are associated with higher HHcy odds among male steelworkers.

Key numbers

1.23

Increased Odds of

Odds Ratio (OR) for current night shift workers vs. never workers

1.35

Increased Odds of with Long Exposure

Odds Ratio (OR) for duration of night shifts >28 years vs. never workers

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Different exposure metrics of rotating night shift work and hyperhomocysteinaemia among Chinese steelworkers: a cross-sectional study

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