Effects of Health on Shift-Work: General and Psychological health, Sleep, Stress, Quality of life / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the effects of shift-work, in terms of general health concepts, insomnia, stress, quality of life and psychological health, at several manufacturing plants. METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to 850 shift-workers (study group), and to 550 non-shift workers (as a control group). The questionnaires included questions on ; general health concepts, insomnia, stress, quality of life and psychological health. 455 shift-workers and 372 non-shift workers completed the questionnaires, and the factors influencing the health status and quality of life in workers estimated by multiple iogistic regression analysis. RESULTS: From the general health questionnaires, the mental health and health perception were significantly different between the shift and non-shift workers, with the better being former than the latter (p<0.05). Shift-workers complained of more insomnia when adjusted for age, working period, education and job satisfaction. Greater job satisfaction, was coupled with less complaints of insomnia (p<0.05). There were 200(43.96 %) shift workers classified as insomniac, whereas with the non-shift workers this figure was 84 (25.15 %), showing a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). Shift-workers were more stressed than the non-shift workers in their daily lives, which also showed significant difference (p<0.05). Less job satisfaction, was coupled with more complaints of stress (p<0.05). The quality of life of the shift-workers was lower than that of the nonshift workers (p<0.05). With the shift-workers complaining of more anxiety than the nonshift workers (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that shift-workers suffer from physical and psychological distresses, sleep problems and stress than non-shift workers. Furthermore, it is presumed that these factors might negatively affect the quality of life of shift-workers. Accordingly, interventional methods for shift-worker's health and quality of life as a result of adverse effects of shift-work are needed.

The Relationship between Cold-Exposure and Hypertension / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to suggest preventive methods for hypertension in cold-exposed workers. METHODS: In 11 refrigeration industries, 68 workers working in refrigerated areas more than one time per day were selected as the exposed group, and 68 workers not exposed to cold were selected as the control group. We interviewed the subjects with a questionnaire covering occupational history, and conducted clinical and laboratory tests including measurements of blood pressure and core temperature. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure in the exposed group(130.0+/-13.3 mmHg) was significantly higher than that recorded in the control group(118.3+/-12.1 mmHg), as was the diastolic blood pressure in the exposed group(82.7+/-8.5 mmHg) versus the control group(77.4 +/-8.7 mmHg). The core temperature in the exposed group(36.1+/-0 . 7degrees C) was significantly lower than that experienced in the control group(36.4+/-0 . 5degrees C). In logistic regression analysis, age, cold exposure severity and milk intake were significant variables, with odds ratios of 5.204(95 % CI 1.440~18.812), 2.674(95 % CI 1.080~6.618), and 0.364(95 % CI 0.141~0.942), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that cold-exposed workers have higher a higher risk of hypertension, and that their core temperature is lower. Risk factors affecting hypertension of cold-exposed workers include age, cold exposure severity and milk intake. For the prevention of hypertension, cold-exposed workers should minimize cold-exposure time as much as possible.

Changes of Serum Troponin-T Concentrations in Patients with Open Heart Surgery / 대한흉부외과학회지

This study was designed to identify the efficiency of serum troponin-T (s-TnT) level as a diagnostic indicator for the perioperative myocardial damage with open heart surgery (OHS) and to compare with the conventional myocardial enzyme tests such as isoenzyme fraction of creatine kinase (% CK-MB) and isoenzyme ratio of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH1/LDH2 ratio). The study was performed on 30 adult patients who underwent OHS from Jan. 1996 to June 1996 at Inje University Pusan Paik Hospital, and they were divided into two groups accorfding to aortic clamping time (ACT) duration : group I (ACT60 minutes, n=15). S-TnT, % CK-MB, and LDH1/LDH2 ratio were measured in serial blood samples from all subjected patients. The results were obtained as follows. 1. In both groups, s-TnT concentrations increased gradually during OHS and elevated significantly at CPB-10 (p0.05). 4. The serial changes of s-TnT were relatively well correlated with those of changes of % CK-MB (r=0.64, p<0.05). 5. The serial s-TnT levels were significantly higher in group II than group I from B-ACR to POD 1 (p<0.05), suggesting that duration of aortic clamping time was a major factor concerned with perioperative myocardial injury. In conclusion, measurement of s-TnT is a very useful indicator in assessing the myocardial cell damage and therefore it is expected that serial checking and evaluation of the s-TnT is very available for identification of the perioperative myocardial damage and for postoperative cares in patients with OHS.