Poor sleep linked to white blood cell count in male Japanese workers

Poor sleep is associated with an increase in white blood cell count among 208 male Japanese workers.

• Shift workers had a greater white blood cell count compared to daytime workers.
• Despite longer sleeping hours, shift workers reported poorer sleep quality more frequently.
• Multiple regression analysis indicated that poor sleep, along with smoking, body mass index, and age, were independent factors linked to increased white blood cell count.
• Sleeping hours and work pattern (shift work) did not significantly affect white blood cell count.

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