Impacts of shift work on sleep and circadian rhythms.

No SJR dataSep 24, 2014Pathologie-biologie

Shift work may affect sleep and body clocks.

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Abstract

Between 15% and 30% of adult workers are involved in shift work, which may affect their sleep and health.

Shift work often includes early starts, long hours, and night shifts.
Around 2-5% of shift workers may experience a disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness or sleep disruption.
Sleepiness during night shifts tends to peak at the end of the shift.
Impaired attention and performance due to sleepiness can pose serious risks to health and safety.
Workers with sleep-wake disorders may fall asleep unexpectedly, which can lead to accidents and public safety issues.
Shift work may have significant socioeconomic effects, particularly in relation to accidents and worker impairment.

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Shift work comprises work schedules that extend beyond the typical "nine-to-five" workday, wherein schedules often comprise early work start, compressed work weeks with 12-hour shifts, and night work. According to recent American and European surveys, between 15 and 30% of adult workers are engaged in some type of shift work, with 19% of the European population reportedly working at least 2 hours between 22:00 and 05:00. The 2005 International Classification of Sleep Disorders estimates that a shift work sleep disorder can be found in 2-5% of workers. This disorder is characterized by excessive sleepiness and/or sleep disruption for at least one month in relation with the atypical work schedule. Individual tolerance to shift work remains a complex problem that is affected by the number of consecutive work hours and shifts, the rest periods, and the predictability of work schedules. Sleepiness usually occurs during night shifts and is maximal at the end of the night. Impaired vigilance and performance occur around times of increased sleepiness and can seriously compromise workers' health and safety. Indeed, workers suffering from a shift work sleep-wake disorder can fall asleep involuntarily at work or while driving back home after a night shift. Working on atypical shifts has important socioeconomic impacts as it leads to an increased risk of accidents, workers' impairment and danger to public safety, especially at night. The aim of the present review is to review the circadian and sleep-wake disturbances associated with shift work as well as their medical impacts.

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