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. 2013 Oct;56(10):1174-9.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.22207. Epub 2013 Jun 21.

QTc interval and electrocardiographic changes by type of shift work

Michele Meloni  1 , Davide Setzu, Alberto Del Rio, Marcello Campagna, Pierluigi Cocco
Affiliations

QTc interval and electrocardiographic changes by type of shift work

Michele Meloni et al. Am J Ind Med. 2013 Oct.

Abstract

Background: We conducted a cross sectional survey of electrocardiographic changes among shift-workers.

Methods: We classified the electrocardiogram morphology, and measured the QTc interval in 91 male workers engaged in regular daily work-shifts, 32 in 24 hr work-shift (h24), and 93 in irregular 6 hr work-shift (h6).

Results: With reference to daily workers, the QTc interval was prolonged among h6 workers (P < 0.001) and h24 workers (P < 0.005). The age- and obesity-adjusted standardized prevalence ratio (SPR) of a borderline/prolonged QTc was 2.2-fold among h6 workers (95% CI 1.2, 4.2); conduction disorders (SPR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.3, 5.2) and repolarization disorders (SPR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.0, 3.5) were also more frequently observed among h6 workers. Excluding 19 subjects with risk factors for prolonged QTc did not change the results.

Conclusions: Our study reveals significant changes in the ECG morphology in relation to shift-work, especially in unpredictable and non-standard working hours.

Keywords: QTc interval; electrocardiogram; shift work.

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