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. 2023 Dec;96(10):1361-1371.
doi: 10.1007/s00420-023-02014-2. Epub 2023 Oct 24.

Relationship between night shift and sleep problems, risk of metabolic abnormalities of nurses: a 2 years follow-up retrospective analysis in the National Nurse Health Study (NNHS)

Heli Zhang #  1 , Jingpin Wang #  2 , Siwei Zhang  2 , Sumei Tong  3 , Jinping Hu  4 , Ying Che  5 , Lin Zhuo  6 , Peng Wang  5 , Rongmei Geng  2 , Yujie Zhou  7 , Panfeng Wang  8 , Siyan Zhan  9 , Baohua Li  10
Affiliations

Relationship between night shift and sleep problems, risk of metabolic abnormalities of nurses: a 2 years follow-up retrospective analysis in the National Nurse Health Study (NNHS)

Heli Zhang et al. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Efforts to improve nurses' physical and mental health are critical to ensuring the safety and quality of the healthcare system. Long-term studies targeting the relevancy of nurses' occupation characteristics with health conditions remain insufficient. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses' night shift and sleep problems and metabolic abnormalities risk.

Methods: This study was a part of the National Nurse Health Study, an ambispective cohort study in China, in 2021. Based on an integration physical examination data system, this study carried out a retrospective analysis of 730 nurses from 2018 to 2020 and combined with a questionnaire survey in 2021. The STROBE guidelines were adopted for reporting.

Results: In the 23 (23.0, 24.0) months follow-up, higher night shift load was associated with more sleep problems such as shortened sleep duration, sleep disorders, poor sleep quality, and sleep deprivation. Moreover, night shift load was associated with chronic diseases risk factors, increasing body mass index and body fat, with more night shift density, increasing the occurrence of low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglyceride, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and serum uric acid.

Conclusion: The night shift load has become an occupational health concern, contributing to chronic diseases relevant metabolic risk factors and negative influence on sleep health. Focus on the strategies to improve the sleep quality of nurses undergoing night shift work, optimize work scheduling and ongoing monitor the relevant risk factors are essential to enhance the stability and well-being of the nursing workforce.

Clinical trials registration information: NCT04572347, on October 1, 2020. https://www.

Clinicaltrials: gov/ct2/show/NCT04572347.

Keywords: Cohort studies; Metabolism; Night shift; Nurses; Risk factors; Sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart Of Study Procedure And Participants Selection From 2018 To 2021. The National Nurse Health Study (NNHS)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The Odds Ratio And 95% CI Of Age-Gender Adjusted Binary Logistic Regression Models Of Nurses’ Sleep Problems And Night Shift Load. Ref: Q1 (< 0.0) of Night Shift Load as reference, Q2 (0.0–0.49), Q3 (0.49–0.83), Q4 (> 0.83). Confidence intervals (CI), odds ratio (OR)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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