Korsiak J, et al. – This research ascertained if sleep duration on work shifts mediated the link between a current alternating day and night shift work schedule and metabolic syndrome among female hospital employees. It also determined if the cumulative lifetime shift work exposure correlated with metabolic syndrome. It was concluded that sleep duration mediated the relation between a current alternating day–night shift work pattern and metabolic syndrome.

Methods

• The enrollment consisted of 294 female hospital employees.
• An estimation was performed of the sleep duration with the ActiGraph GT3X+.
• Shift work status was determined through self-report.
• The regression path analysis determined the total, direct and indirect effects between shift work, sleep duration on work shifts and metabolic syndrome.
• Logistic regression identified the correlation between cumulative shift work exposure and metabolic syndrome.

Results

• A strong correlation was noted between shift work and metabolic syndrome (ORTotal=2.72, 95% CI 1.38 to 5.36).
• The correlation was attenuated when work shift sleep duration was added to the model (ORDirect=1.18, 95% CI 0.49 to 2.89).
• Sleep duration was found to be a significant intermediate between shift work and metabolic syndrome (ORIndirect=2.25, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.26).
• Cumulative shift work exposure did not exhibit correlation with metabolic syndrome in the study cohort.