The association between shift work, shift work sleep disorders and premature ejaculation in male workers.

OBJECTIVE: Shift work and Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) are known to affect the secretion of several neurotransmitters and hormones associated with premature ejaculation (PE). However, their specific influence on the regulation of male ejaculation remains unclear. This study explores the relationship between shift work, SWSD, and PE. METHODS: From April to October 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted across five regions of China to explore the work schedules, sleep quality, and sexual function of male workers. Participants' sleep quality was evaluated using a validated SWSD questionnaire, and their erectile function and ejaculatory control were assessed with the International Inventory of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) scores, respectively. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were employed to identify risk factors associated with PE. Confounders were controlled using multiple regression models, and clinical prediction models were developed to predict PE onset and assess the contribution of risk factors. RESULTS: The study included 1239 eligible participants, comprising 840 non-shift workers and 399 shift workers (148 with SWSD and 251 without SWSD). Compared to non-shift working males, those involved in shift work (ß 1.58, 95% CI 0.75 - 2.42, p < 0.001) and those suffering from SWSD (ß 2.86, 95% CI 1.86 - 3.85, p < 0.001) they had significantly higher PEDT scores. Additionally, we identified daily sleep of less than six hours, depression, anxiety, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, frequent alcohol consumption (more than twice a week), and erectile dysfunction as risk factors for PE. The predictive model for PE demonstrated commendable efficacy. CONCLUSION: Both shift work and SWSD significantly increase the risk of premature ejaculation, with the risk magnifying in tandem with the duration of shift work. This study reveals the potential impact of shift work and SWSD on PE and provides new theoretical foundations for the risk assessment and prevention of this condition.

Sex and race disparities in the association between work characteristics and vitamin D deficiency: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2010.

OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent worldwide; however, few large population-based studies have examined occupational risk factors. We examined associations between shift work, work schedule, hours worked, outdoor work, occupation and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in the US working population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 8601 workers from the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles. NHANES occupational data were supplemented with measures of outdoor work from the Occupational Information Network. Serum 25(OH)D concentration in nanomoles per litre (nmol/L) was categorised as sufficient (≥75), insufficient (50-<75), moderately deficient (30-<50) and severely deficient (<30). Age-adjusted weighted multinomial and binary logistic regression were used to examine associations between work-related factors and vitamin D status with sex-race/ethnicity stratification. RESULTS: Shift workers had higher odds of severe vitamin D deficiency compared with day workers (OR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.19). Compared with those in white-collar occupations, those in natural resources were less likely to be deficient (OR: 0.31, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.52), while those in production were more likely to be deficient (OR: 2.25, 95% CI 1.48 to 3.43). Women working ≥40 hours/week compared with <40 hours/week were more likely to be moderately deficient (OR: 1.30, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.59). Black women working in sales were more likely to be deficient than those in management (OR: 1.53, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.27). Mexican American men working nights had the highest odds of deficiency (OR: 2.64, 95% CI 1.38 to 5.06). CONCLUSIONS: Work-related factors were associated with vitamin D status and there were race/ethnicity and sex differences. Targeted vitamin D screening and supplementation interventions may reduce these disparities.

Relationship between shift type and sleep quality in rotating-shift nurses with chronotype as a moderator variable.

BACKGROUND: Rotating-shift nurses are susceptible to sleep disorders due to numerous factors, such as their biological clock, emotions, and age. At present, a lack of research exists on whether chronotype and shift type jointly influence the sleep quality of nurses. AIM: To verify whether chronotype is a moderator variable of the relationship between shift type and sleep quality in nurses in order to provide empirical evidence for future mental and physical health improvement. METHOD: Clinical rotating-shift nurses at a medical center in northern Taiwan were recruited as participants between November 1, 2023, and December 13, 2023. All of the nurses were working a monthly rotating shift schedule. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was employed to investigate whether the influence of shift type on sleep quality in nurses varied with chronotype. The STROBE checklist was used for reporting this study. RESULTS: The participants were 255 rotating-shift nurses in this study. Hierarchical multiple regression results revealed that rotating-shift nurses who were older (B = 0.19, p = 0.029), had greater physical fatigue (B = 0.27, p = 0.016), and had more negative emotions (B = 0.17, p = 0.011) suffered from poorer sleep quality. After controlling the above factors, we further found that chronotype indeed had moderating effects on the influence of shift type on sleep quality (B = -1.83, p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that early- and intermediate-type nurses are more suitable for working the day and evening shifts, whereas late-type nurses are more suitable for working the night shift. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Coordinating chronotype with shift type will ensure that shift schedules better match the biological clocks of nurses; such individual considerations could help to improve their sleep quality.

Factors leading to excessive fatigue in nurses - a three-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Global nursing shortages necessitate the identification of mitigatable factors that may reduce nursing absence and turnover. Fatigue has been shown to be associated with these issues. This study aimed to identify factors leading to development of or recovery from excessive fatigue in nurses as these can offer actionable avenues for protecting nurses against fatigue or supporting fatigue recovery. METHODS: A longitudinal study among nurses randomly sampled from the Norwegian Nurse's Organization. The Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire measured fatigue. Dichotomized scoring was used, with scores ≥ 4 considered excessive fatigue. The study included questions on shift work schedules, psychosocial work characteristics, sleep, body mass index, physical activity, caffeine, alcohol, mental health, etc. Two sets of logistic regression analysis were conducted (one for development of and one for recovery from excessive fatigue), evaluating how changes in work, lifestyle and health between baseline (2015) and follow-up (2018) affected first, odds of development of excessive fatigue and second, odds of recovery from excessive fatigue. RESULTS: Among 1,311 included nurses, 21.6% maintained, 13.3% developed, and 18.0% recovered from excessive fatigue (2015-2018). Within work characteristics, increased psychological work demands were associated with development of excessive fatigue OR = 1.77 (CI = 1.11-2.82). Several work characteristics were associated with recovery from excessive fatigue, including decreased decision latitude (OR = 0.39; CI = 0.19-0.82) and increased coworker support (OR = 1.90; CI = 1.11-3.24). Shift work variables were not associated with fatigue outcomes. Amongst lifestyle factors, changes in sleep duration, obesity, and exercise were significant. Notably, developing inappropriate sleep duration (OR = 2.84; CI = 1.47-5.48) increased odds of developing excessive fatigue, while maintaining inappropriate sleep duration (< 6 h or > 8 h) (OR = 0.19; CI = 0.54-0.65) decreased odds of recovering. All assessed health conditions (depression, anxiety, insomnia, and shift work disorder) were related to development of (ORs 2.10-8.07) or recovery from (ORs 0.10-0.50) excessive fatigue. Depression, for example, increased odds of development of (OR = 8.07; CI = 2.35-27.66) and decreased odds of recovery (OR = 0.10; CI = 0.04-0.26) from excessive fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in lifestyle factors, health conditions, and psychosocial work factors were associated with development of and recovery from excessive fatigue. Sleep and psychosocial work factors played important roles. We found no relationship with shift work schedules.

Chronic Mealtime Shift Disturbs Metabolic and Urinary Functions in Mice: Effects of Daily Antioxidant Supplementation.

PURPOSE: Through their biological clocks, organisms on this rotating planet can coordinate physiological processes according to the time of the day. However, the prevalence of circadian rhythm disorders has increased in modern society with the growing number of shift workers, elevating the risk of various diseases. In this study, we employed a mouse model to investigate the effects of urinary rhythm disturbances resulting from dietary changes commonly experienced by night shift workers. METHODS: We established 3 groups based on feeding time and the use of restricted feeding: ad libitum, daytime, and early nighttime feeding. We then examined the urinary rhythm in each group. In addition to the bladder rhythm, we investigated changes in mRNA patterns within the tissues constituting the bladder. Additionally, we assessed the urination rhythm in Per1 and Per2 double-knockout mice and evaluated whether the injection of antioxidants modified the impact of mealtime shift on urination rhythm in wild-type mice. RESULTS: Our study revealed that a shift in mealtime significantly impacted the circadian patterns of water intake and urinary excretion. In Per2::Luc knock-in mouse bladders cultured ex vivo, this shift increased the amplitude of Per2 oscillation and delayed its acrophases by several hours. Daily supplementation with antioxidants did not influence the mealtime shift-induced changes in circadian patterns of water intake and urinary excretion, nor did it affect the modified Per2 oscillation patterns in the cultured bladder. However, in aged mice, antioxidants partially restored the urinary rhythm. CONCLUSION: A shift in mealtime meaningfully impacted the urination rhythm in mice, regardless of the presence of circadian clock genes.

More than sleep problems? Testing five key health behaviors as reasons for quality of life issues among shift workers.

BACKGROUND: The shift work schedule is a common work arrangement that can disrupt typical sleep-wake rhythms and lead to negative health consequences. The present study aims to examine the effect of shift work on health-related quality of life (QoL) and explore potential behaviorial mediators (i.e., sleep, eating, exercise, smoking, drinking). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 4,449 petroleum workers in southwest China. Data on shift work status, health behaviors, and physical and mental health QoL were collected. We tested our model using path analysis and the Monte Carlo approach among 2,129 included participants. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, shift work did not exhibit a significant direct association with QoL. However, shift work indirectly related to poorer physical health quality of life via less frequent healthy food consumption; shift work also indirectly related to poorer mental health QoL via both less frequent healthy food consumption and physical exercise. No significant indirect effects were found via sleeping, smoking, or drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that shift work presents a challenge for QoL among Chinese petroleum workers due to their lesser engagement in two specific health behaviors: healthy eating and physical exercise. Healthy eating and exercise may present an even more prominent threat to shift workers' QoL than sleep and substance use. Strategies targeting shift work schedule as well as eating and exercise behaviors may help protect against poor QoL and adverse physical and mental health outcomes in this vulnerable group.

Association between Circadian Rhythm-Disturbing Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2020).

Background: Circadian misalignment is associated with metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to examine the association between circadian rhythm-disturbing factors and metabolic syndrome. Methods: We used data from the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2016 and 2020, which surveyed 16,253 individuals. Circadian rhythm-disturbing factors were defined as follows: sleep duration outside the reference group (6-8 hours), irregular breakfast, shift work, and physical inactivity. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for metabolic syndrome was calculated based on the number of circadian rhythm-disturbing factors present in adults over the age of 19 years. Results: Among a total of 16,253 participants (mean age 48.2±15 years), metabolic syndrome was found in 5,237 participants (29.3 %). The participants were classified into three categories based on the number of circadian rhythm-disturbing factors as follows: 2,627 (15.6%) did not have any factors, 6,406 (38.13%) had one factor, and 7,220 (46.3%) had two or more factors. Participants with a single circadian rhythm-disturbing factor were 21% more likely to have metabolic syndrome (aOR, 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.36), and participants with two or more factors were 27% more likely to have metabolic syndrome (aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.12-1.43). Conclusion: Circadian rhythm-disturbing factors were significantly associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. This finding has potential clinical implications for maintaining circadian rhythms by avoiding certain factors to prevent metabolic syndrome. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

Shift work effects on incident neuropsychiatric disorders and shift work tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Shift work is associated with susceptibility to several neuropsychiatric disorders. This study aims to investigate the effect of shift work on the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders, and highlighting how individual variability may influence the association. METHODS: UK Biobank participants with employment information were included. Cox survival was conducted in main and subgroup analyses. Correlation analyses explored the impact of shift work on brain structures, and mediation analyses were performed to elucidate the shared underlying mechanisms. Shift work tolerance was evaluated through survival analyses contrasting the risks associated with five neuropsychiatric disorders in shift versus non-shift workers across different demographic or occupational strata. RESULTS: The analysis encompassed 254,646 participants. Shift work was associated with higher risk of dementia (HR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.10-1.52), anxiety (1.08, 1.01-1.15), depression (1.29, 1.22-1.36), and sleep disorders (1.18, 1.09-1.28), but not stroke (p = 0.20). Shift work was correlated with decreasing volume of various brain regions, particularly in thalamus, lateral orbitofrontal, and middle temporal. Mediation analysis revealed that increased immune response and glucose levels are common pathways linking shift work to these disorders. We observed diversity in shift work tolerance across different individual characteristics, among which socioeconomic status and length of working hours were the most essential. LIMITATIONS: Self-reported employment information may cause misclassification and recall bias. And since we focused on the middle-aged population, the conclusions may not be representative of younger or older populations. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated the need to monitor shift worker health and provide personalized management to help adapt to shift work.

The relationship between night shift work, sleep patterns, psychological well-being, and mental health among Jordanian healthcare workers.

This study examines the associations between working night shifts and various outcomes, including sleep patterns, healthcare workers' sleep quality, and physical, mental, and social well-being. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, where the findings revealed that night shift healthcare workers experienced poor sleep quality and pattern. In addition, night shift healthcare workers were more likely to express their intent to leave, the impact of work on their social lives, and a low level of job satisfaction. Healthcare workers showed moderate anxiety and mild depression levels. Lower job satisfaction correlated with higher anxiety and depression levels among healthcare workers, while the negative impact of working hours on social life was associated with increased anxiety and depression. Organizations should consider establishing comprehensive wellness initiatives covering work-life balance, stress management strategies, and mental health resources.

Effect of serial night shifts on the cognitive, psychomotor, and moral performance of residents in the department of Emergency Medicine.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to study the effect of serial night shifts on the cognitive, psychomotor, and moral performance of emergency medicine residents of an academic Emergency Medicine Department. METHODS: This prospective case-crossover study compared emergency medicine residents' sleep time, subjective sleepiness, cognitive function, moral judgment, and psychomotor skills after 5 consecutive days versus night shifts using sleep diaries, activity monitors, and multiple performance tests. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to analyze data based on normality. Correlation analysis was done using Spearman's correlation test. Subgroup analysis was also performed to find any difference based on gender and year of residency. RESULTS: Twenty-seven emergency medicine residents participated (13 males, 48.1%). The distribution across residency years was as follows: 44.4% in their first year, 25.9% in their second year, and 29.6% in their third year. Following five consecutive night shifts, total sleep duration decreased significantly from 338.1 ± 67.8 to 307.4 ± 71.0 min (p < 0.001), while subjective sleepiness scores increased from 9.6 ± 3.3 to 13.6 ± 4.6. Psychomotor performance and reaction times did not significantly differ between night and day shifts. However, working memory declined, assessed by self-paced three-back test scores (median [IQR] 517.1 [471.9-546.7] vs. 457.6 [334.4-508.8]; p = 0.034) and interference test scores (445.5 ± 59.9 vs. 407.2 ± 56.8; p < 0.001), along with moral judgment (median [IQR] 19 [18-28] vs. 15 [11-21]; p = 0.010) after serial night shifts. No correlations existed between performance measures nor differences based on gender or residency year. CONCLUSIONS: Residents sleep less following night versus day shifts, reporting the highest sleepiness levels after 5 consecutive nights. Despite this, psychomotor performance and reaction times did not significantly differ. However, considerable reductions occurred in moral judgment, working memory, and interference test performance after serial night shifts.

Rotating shift and BMI increase among healthcare workers in a military hospital: pre- and post-pandemic analysis in Taiwan.

Background: The increasing prevalence of high body mass index (BMI) emphasizes the need for action. Understanding of BMI factors among military hospital healthcare workers remains limited. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing BMI risk factors and changes pre- and post-coronavirus 2019 pandemic among military hospital healthcare workers in central Taiwan from 2019 to 2021. Methods: Conducted at a military hospital in central Taiwan, this study analyzed anonymized health examination data from 2019 to 2021 for 483 healthcare workers. We performed generalized estimating equations to investigate trends in BMI and its association with various factors, including age, sex, job titles, military status, job tenure, work shifts, and lifestyle habits. Results: The risk of increased BMI was higher in 2021 compared to 2019 (risk ratio [RR]: 1.008, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001-1.014). Individuals on rotating shifts had a higher risk of increased BMI compared to day shift workers (RR: 1.021; 95% CI: 1.008-1.035) and higher odds of obesity (odds ratio: 1.546; 95% CI: 1.099-2.175). Among obese individuals, BMI in soldiers was approximately 4.9% lower than in non-soldiers (RR: 0.951; 95% CI: 0.915-0.988). Conclusions: This study identified a significant post-pandemic increase in BMI among healthcare workers in a Taiwanese military hospital, with rotating shifts being a key risk factor for both increased BMI and obesity. Work-related factors influenced BMI changes among obese individuals, while non-work-related factors were significant for non-obese individuals. These findings highlight the broader effects of the pandemic and the specific impact of work-related factors on obese healthcare workers.

Association between Sleep Duration, Social Jetlag, and the Metabolic Syndrome by Shift Works.

Lifestyle factors, including sleep characteristics, have been implicated in the development of metabolic syndrome, particularly among shift workers. This study aimed to explore the relationship between shift work, sleep duration, social jetlag, and the risk of metabolic syndrome among U.S. workers and the moderating effect of sleep duration and social jetlag on this relationship. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2017-2020 March were analyzed. Poisson regression models were employed to examine associations. Among 4136 U.S. workers, 53.3% had metabolic syndrome, with a higher proportion of shift workers (63.8% vs. 56.7%, p = 0.001) and those sleeping less than 6 h or more than 9 h per week (22.3% vs. 19.1%, p = 0.044) in the affected group. Shift workers were initially found to have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (Coef. = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.16); however, this association was mitigated when accounting for the interaction with social jetlag. Specifically, 1 to <2 h of social jetlag interacted significantly, increasing metabolic risk (Coef. = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.22), whereas 1 to <2 h alone showed a protective effect (Coef. = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.17, -0.06). These findings suggest that optimizing sleep schedules and addressing social jetlag may be crucial in mitigating metabolic syndrome risks among shift workers.

Relationship between mental workload and musculoskeletal disorders with intention to leave service among nurses working at neonatal and pediatric departments: a cross-sectional study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Despite the challenge of nursing shortage in the world and its subsequent impact on care quality as well as aggravation of the situation by intention to leave service, this issue has not been properly addressed, especially among neonatal and pediatric nurses. The present study aims to identify the relationship between mental workload and musculoskeletal disorders with intention to leave the service among nurses working at neonatal and pediatric departments. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 145 nurses working at neonatal and pediatric departments in six hospitals in Bushehr Province using full-census method. The data were collected using national aeronautics and space administration-task load index (NASA-TLX), Cornell musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire(CMDQ) and Mobley and Horner's voluntary turnover questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson's and Spearman correlation tests and hierarchical linear regression in simultaneous model in SPSS 19.0. RESULTS: The mean score of intention to leave the service was 9.57 ± 3.20 (higher than the moderate level) and the mean mental workload was 71.65 ± 15.14 (high level). Pain in at least one of the legs (100%), back (77.3%) and knees (76.6%) was highly prevalent. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between musculoskeletal disorder categories and intention to leave the service (p > 0.05). The regression analysis results revealed among mental workload domains, only effort-induced workload was negatively and significantly correlated with intention to leave the service (p = 0.003; ß=-0.078). However, the number of night shifts per month was positively and significantly correlated with intention to leave the service (p = 0.001; ß = 0.176). CONCLUSIONS: Planning for appropriate allocation of night shifts, investigating the etiology of musculoskeletal disorders and providing solutions for reducing mental workload should be prioritized by policymakers, while maintaining pediatric nurses' motivation for making efforts.

SleepSync: Early Testing of a Personalised Sleep-Wake Management Smartphone Application for Improving Sleep and Cognitive Fitness in Defence Shift Workers.

Shift work, long work hours, and operational tasks contribute to sleep and circadian disruption in defence personnel, with profound impacts on cognition. To address this, a digital technology, the SleepSync app, was designed for use in defence. A pre-post design study was undertaken to examine whether four weeks app use improved sleep and cognitive fitness (high performance neurocognition) in a cohort of shift workers from the Royal Australian Air Force. In total, 13 of approximately 20 shift-working personnel from one base volunteered for the study. Sleep outcomes were assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), Sleep Disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment Scales, the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale, the Sleep Hygiene Index, and mental health was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Sustained attention was measured using the 3-min Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and controlled response using the NBack. Results showed significant improvements in insomnia (ISI scores 10.31 at baseline and 7.50 after app use), sleep-related impairments (SRI T-scores 53.03 at baseline to 46.75 post-app use), and healthy sleep practices (SHI scores 21.61 at baseline to 18.83 post-app use; all p < 0.001). Trends for improvement were recorded for depression. NBack incorrect responses reduced significantly (9.36 at baseline; reduced by -3.87 at last week of app use, p < 0.001), but no other objective measures improved. These findings suggest that SleepSync may improve sleep and positively enhance cognitive fitness but warrants further investigation in large samples. Randomised control trials with other cohorts of defence personnel are needed to confirm the utility of this intervention in defence settings.

Healthily Nourished but Depleted? Is It Possible to Improve the Health of Shift Workers through Lifestyle Interventions?

The relationship between diet and health is well-researched, and there is also information regarding the effects of diet on mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether motivation to optimize lifestyles without regulations or restrictions could improve the health of rotating shift workers. In this pilot study, 18 male shift workers were randomly divided into two groups. All participants completed the Short Form Health Survey-36 questionnaire (SF-36) before the start and at the end of the study. Group I (n = 9, mean age 42 ± 6.6 y) received dietary and lifestyle information every other month for one year, and the other, Group II (n = 9 mean age 36 ± 7.3 y), one year later. All participants were motivated to follow the trained dietary recommendations and to engage in physical activity. Almost all scores had improved. Surprisingly, physical performance scores worsened, which was not expected. The impairment in mental health due to the change in ownership of the company could have been better explained. Nutritional advice over a longer period and the motivation to integrate more exercise into everyday life can potentially improve the health of rotating shift workers.

Investigation of the possible effects of night shift on telomere length and mtDNA copy number in nurses.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the impacts of altered circadian rhythm on telomere length and mtDNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) in nurses working night shifts. In our study, 52 healthy nurses working in shifts at Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital and 45 healthy control subjects working during the day were included. qRT-PCR technique was used for the determination of telomere length and mtDNA-CN. It was observed that the shift-work group had poor sleep quality (p = 0.004), feeling tired (p < 0.01) and stressed (p = 0.02) more than control group working during the day. Nurses working in shifts were found to have 1.18 times longer telomeres with respect to the control group working during the day (p = 0.005). When compared among shift workers, poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep duration shortened telomeres (r = 0.32; p = 0.02). There was no statistically significantdisparity regarding mtDNA-CN among the nurses working in shifts and the control group working during the day (p = 0.07). Insufficient sleep was associated with decreased mtDNA-CN when shift-working nurses were compared according to sleep quality (p = 0.006). Furthermore, mtDNA-CN of nurses with poor sleep quality was correlated with lower mtDNA-CN in comparison to nurses with good sleep quality (r = 0.284; p = 0.04). The mtDNA-CN of the nurses was positively associated with the sleep duration the night sleep before the night shift (r = 0.32; p = 0.02). Inadequate sleep duration and quality were observed to cause a reduction in mtDNA-CN of nurses. In conclusion, it has been observed that poor sleep quality and duration are related to shortened telomere length and decreased mtDNA-CN in night shift nurses.

Sleep quality and the need for recovery among nurses working irregular shifts: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Shift work affects the mental and physical health of nurses, yet the effect of working irregular shifts on sleep and its association with the need for recovery is under-explored. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the sleep quality of nurses working irregular shifts, including night shifts, and to determine whether sleep quality is associated with the need for recovery. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 405 nurses working irregular shifts. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, the Sleep-Wake Experience List, sleep problems, sleep duration, and the Need for Recovery scale. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, logistic and multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: Nurses who worked irregular shifts had poor sleep quality. Those who also worked night shifts, had significantly poorer sleep quality and experienced more difficulties in daily functioning than those who did not work night shifts. Sleep quality was significantly associated with the need for recovery and this remained so after controlling for confounding variables (ß= .554, p = .001). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that in nurses who work irregular shifts, the sleep quality is low. In this group, the sleep quality in nurses who work night shifts is lower than in nurses who do not work night shifts. Furthermore, better sleep quality was associated with lower need for recovery. These findings suggest that improving sleep quality in nurses working irregular shifts may lower their need for recovery, which may improve health, and reduce burnout and sickness absence.

Understanding perceptions about the health effects of night working and the barriers and enablers to taking part in nutritional research: A qualitative study among night workers in England.

Working at night is associated with adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes. However, there are a lack of nutritional intervention studies conducted amongst night workers, subsequently contributing to a lack of evidence-based guidelines for night workers. The aim of The Eating on the Night Shift study was to understand how night shift workers view working at night in relation to nutritional health and wellbeing, the barriers and enablers to participate in research and what kind of guidance would be useful to them. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a convenience sample (n = 18) of night workers based in England. The interview covered experiences of working night shifts, perceptions about night work and their health, and perceptions of and likely engagement with nutritional research. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Of the final sample 13 were female (72%), 39% worked a rotating shift pattern and 78% had worked night shifts for 1 year or more. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) the consequences of night work on health and wellbeing, (2) eating at night means a less healthy diet, (3) working at night has wider knock-on effects on aspects of lifestyle and wellbeing and (4) nutritional research is perceived as important, but there are barriers to participation. Night workers are aware that working at night can negatively impact their diet as well as their health. Nutritional researchers need to engage with night workers when considering intervention design and implementation as well as in the development of any resultant evidence-based guidance to ensure its relevance.

A low-calorie meal replacement improves body composition and metabolic parameters in shift workers with overweight and obesity: a randomized, controlled, parallel group trial.

BACKGROUND: Shift work has been identified as a risk factor for several chronic health conditions including obesity. This study evaluated the impact of a low-calorie meal replacement (MR) as a dinner substitute on body composition and metabolic parameters in shift workers with overweight and obesity. METHODS: An 8-week parallel, randomized controlled trial was conducted on overweight and obese shift workers in a large hospital. An intervention group (IG) (n = 25) was provided with a low-calorie MR shake (∼200 kcal) as a replacement for dinner, every day for 8 weeks, while the control group (CG) (n = 25) continued their habitual diet. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, biochemical, and lifestyle data were assessed at the first and last visits. Analyses were done per protocol (PP) and by intention to treat (ITT). RESULTS: Over the study duration, both groups displayed moderate changes in anthropometric measurements and body composition, although these were not statistically significant according to the PP analysis. In the ITT analysis, apart from the hip circumference (HC), all other anthropometric parameters demonstrated significant group and time interactions, suggesting the advantageous effects of the meal replacement over the study period (P < 0.05). HDL and VLDL cholesterol measures showed significant main effects, influenced by both group (P = 0.031) and time (P = 0.050) respectively. The most pronounced dietary shift in the IG was a reduction in carbohydrate consumption and an increase in protein intake. Throughout the study, the meal replacement was well-tolerated, with no adverse events reported. CONCLUSIONS: The meal replacement dietary intervention appears to offer beneficial health effects over time. Extended research is crucial to understand the broader implications of meal replacements across diverse populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12622000231741. Registered on 09 February 2022. https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12622000231741.aspx .

Microglia, circadian rhythm and lifestyle factors.

Microglia, a vital homeostasis-keeper of the central nervous system, perform critical functions such as synaptic pruning, clearance of cellular debris, and participation in neuroinflammatory processes. Recent research has shown that microglia exhibit strong circadian rhythms that not only actively regulate their own immune activity, but also affect neuronal function. Disruptions of the circadian clock have been linked to a higher risk of developing a variety of diseases. In this article we will provide an overview of how lifestyle factors impact microglial function, with a focus on disruptions caused by irregular sleep-wake patterns, reduced physical activity, and eating at the wrong time-of-day. We will also discuss the potential connection between these lifestyle factors, disrupted circadian rhythms, and the role of microglia in keeping brain health.