[Comparison of sleep disorders in shift and non-shift workers employed in a printing factory in Tehran 2010]

According to the previous studies, 25 percent of the total workforce is faced with the shift working. Sleep disorders are the most common health complaint of the shift workers. This study was designed to examine the sleep status of workers in a printing factory. We aimed to investigate the association between prevalence of sleep disorders with shift working and other probable factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted among workers of a printing factory in Tehran, 2010. Required information was gathered through a questionnaire consisting of three parts: Demographic data, ESS questionnaire [Epworth Sleepiness Scale] and SMII questionnaire [Sleep Med Insomnia Index]. Collected data from 385 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. P values <0. 05 were considered significant statistically. According to the results of the analysis, shift working, drug consumption and smoking were significantly associated with the prevalence of sleep disorders [especially with prevalence of insomnia]. Logistic regression analysis was also performed for insomnia. The Odds Ratio for shift working and drug consumption were 2.3 and 3.2, respectively. Based on this study, shift working could be considered as an important risk factor of sleep disorders. However, further studies are needed to confirm this theory and to plan for reducing such disorders among shift workers

[Assessment of effect of shift work on blood pressure in workers of a rubber manufacturing company]

Various factors such as occupational and environmental risk factors affect blood pressure. Nowadays, shift work is a common work schedule. Studies on effect of shift work on hypertension showed different results. We studied the effect of shift work on hypertension and pre-hypertension among workers in a rubber manufacturing company. In a cross-sectional study, 265 workers studied. Workers divided to shift workers and day workers, their systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP] were measured by standard method. Then mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension were compared between two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between hypertension and shift work. Chi square, t-test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the variables of age, BMI, employment duration, smoking and other confounding factors [p>0.05]. The mean values of SBP and DBP and prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension was significantly more in shift workers than day workers [p<0.05]. After logistic regression analysis with adjustment of confounding variables, significant correlation between shift work and hypertension was found [p<0.05]. Odds ratio for hypertension in shift workers was 2.86. Our results suggested that shift work can be a risk factor for hypertension and pre-hypertension. Therefore more attention should be paid to shift workers by periodic measurement of blood pressure

Cardiovascular diseases impairment [Coronary Artery Diseases, Hypertension, Arrhythmia]

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of mortality and morbidity in developed and several of developing countries and estimates for 40 - 45% of that. In Iran statistics shows high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular diseases with accidents are the most important causes of mortality. Health deputy of Ministry of Health reported 70000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases in 2007. Also cardiovascular diseases are one of the most causes of impairment. Cardiovascular impairment is high in Iran because of high rate of cardiovascular diseases, but unfortunately, it has not been paied attention yet and there is no known functional way for impairment assessment. Impairment and disability assessment is a complex and difficult method and physicians should assess impairment based on patients' history, physical and Paraclinical findings, but a team work is necessary for determination of disability based on multiple aspects such as impairment, psychosocial and job of patients