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. 2020 Jun;11(2):178-186.
doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2020.02.004. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Work Hours and Cognitive Function: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Luenda E Charles  1 , Desta Fekedulegn  1 , Cecil M Burchfiel  1 , Kaori Fujishiro  2 , Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri  3 , Annette L Fitzpatrick  4 , Stephen R Rapp  5
Affiliations

Work Hours and Cognitive Function: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Luenda E Charles et al. Saf Health Work. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment is a public health burden. Our objective was to investigate associations between work hours and cognitive function.

Methods: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants (n = 2,497; 50.7% men; age range 44-84 years) reported hours per week worked in all jobs in Exams 1 (2000-2002), 2 (2002-2004), 3 (2004-2005), and 5 (2010-2011). Cognitive function was assessed (Exam 5) using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (version 2), a measure of global cognitive functioning; the Digit Symbol Coding, a measure of processing speed; and the Digit Span test, a measure of attention and working memory. We used a prospective approach and linear regression to assess associations for every 10 hours of work.

Results: Among all participants, associations of hours worked with cognitive function of any type were not statistically significant. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.051), longer work hours were associated with poorer global cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers, after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, race/ethnicity, educational level, annual income, history of heart attack, diabetes, apolipoprotein E-epsilon 4 allele (ApoE4) status, birth-place, number of years in the United States, language spoken at MESA Exam 1, and work hours at Exam 5 (β = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.99, -0.09) and (β = -0.80, -1.51, -0.09), respectively. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.040), we also observed an inverse association with processing speed among blue-collar workers (adjusted β = -0.80, -1.52, -0.07). Sex, race/ethnicity, and ApoE4 did not significantly modify associations between work hours and cognitive function.

Conclusion: Weak inverse associations were observed between work hours and cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers.

Keywords: ApoE4, apolipoprotein E-epsilon 4 allele; BMI, body mass index; CASI, Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument; CVD, cardiovascular disease; Cognitive abilities screening instrument; DS, Digit Span; DSC, Digit Symbol Coding; Digit Symbol Coding; GED, General Education Development; Global cognitive function; MESA, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis; MET-min, metabolic equivalent minutes; Occupation; Work schedule.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of participants included in the present study. CASI, Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument; MESA, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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