Influence of Shift Work on Arterial Stiffness and Systemic Inflammation: A 3-Year Follow-up Study in Industry

Objective: To assess changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors during a 3-year follow-up among 57 rotating shift workers and 29 day workers in industry.

Methods: We collected demographics by questionnaire, examined blood pressure, heart rate, pulse wave velocity, carotid media thickness, and maximal oxygen uptake. We assessed blood samples for determination of lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, markers of inflammation, and particle concentrations/respirable dust. Baseline comparisons were analyzed using logistic regression (plaque) and linear regression for all other outcomes. We applied mixed models to assess differences in change in health outcomes between the shift workers and the day workers.

Results: At baseline, the adhesion molecules soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and soluble P-selectin were elevated among the shift workers compared with that of the day workers. There was a significant difference in change in pulse wave velocity between shift workers (1.29-m/s increase) and day workers (0.11-m/s increase) over the 3-year follow-up. Respirable dust levels were below the Norwegian occupational exposure limit.

Conclusions: Shift work in industry is associated with arterial stiffening reflecting increased risk for future cardiovascular disease. More uncertainly, we found some support for systemic inflammation.