Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Oct 22:33:e31.
doi: 10.35371/aoem.2021.33.e31. eCollection 2021.

Association between metabolic syndrome and shift work in chemical plant workers

Seong-Ryol Chai  1 , Soon-Chan Kwon  1 , Yong-Jin Lee  1 , Eun-Chul Jang  1 , Young-Sun Min  1 , Su-Yeon Lee  1
Affiliations

Association between metabolic syndrome and shift work in chemical plant workers

Seong-Ryol Chai et al. Ann Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to determine the association between shift work and metabolic syndrome and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the shift and day work groups among workers working in chemical plants.

Methods: Based on medical examination data collected in February 2019, 3,794 workers working at a chemical plant in Korea were selected. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed by adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), drinking, exercise, smoking, employment period and organic compounds exposure.

Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the entire study group was 23.4%, and the prevalence and components of metabolic syndrome in shift worker; waist circumference were higher than those of day workers (84.77 ± 8.64 vs. 83.41 ± 9.42, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (129.89 ± 9.47 vs. 127.57 ± 9.47, p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (81.22 ± 7.59 vs. 79.34 ± 7.46, p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (99.27 ± 17.13 vs. 97.87 ± 13.07, p = 0.007), triglycerides (149.70 ± 101.15 vs. 133.55 ± 105.17, p < 0.001), and decreased high-density lipoprotein (53.18 ± 12.82 vs. 55.61 ± 14.17, p < 0.001). As a result of logistic regression analysis on the risk of metabolic syndrome, even after adjusting for age, sex BMI, drinking, smoking, exercise, employment period, organic compound exposure. the odds ratio (OR) for the shift group was 1.300 for daytime workers (Model 1, OR: 1.491; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.273-1.747; Model 2, OR: 1.260; 95% CI: 1.070-1.483; Model 3, OR: 1.309, 95% CI: 1.081-1.585; Model 4, OR: 1.300; 95% CI: 1.063-1.591).

Conclusions: Shift work in chemical plant workers increased the risk of metabolic syndrome, even after adjusting for general factors. To analyze the occupational cause and risk control, it is necessary to analyze the hazardous substances the workers were exposed to and their working environment. Additionally, a large-scale prospective analysis including general factors not analyzed in this study, such as eating habits, is required.

Keywords: Chemical plant; Metabolic syndrome; Shift work; Workplace.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

    1. International Labour Organization. C171 - Night Work Convention, 1990 (No. 171) [Accessed December 22, 2020]. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:12100:0:NO:P12100_INSTRUMENT... .
    1. Ministry of Goverment Legislation. Labor Standards Act Article 56. [Updated March 20, 2018]. [Accessed December 22, 2020]. https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/eng/engLsSc.do?menuId=2&query=LABOR%20STANDARD... .
    1. Council of the European Union. Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time. Off J Euro Communities. 1993;307(13.12.1993):18–24.
    1. Smith L, Macdonald I, Folkard S, Tucker P. Industrial shift systems. Appl Ergon. 1998;29(4):273–280. - PubMed
    1. Rosa RR, Colligan MJ. How to Examine Work Schedules. Plain Language About Shiftwork. Washington, D.C., USA: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health; 1997. pp. 5–12.

LinkOut - more resources