Health effects of the shift work system

Year 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1(4), 7 - 7, 01.11.2017

Didem Ata Yüzügüllü Necdet Aytaç Muhsin Akbaba

Abstract

Technological advances and the changes to methods of
production in many industrialized countries led to the introduction of shift
work systems to ensure the continuity in operation of industries. Shift work
has long been known to disrupt circadian rhythm,sleep, and work-life balance.

Alfredsson et al. carried out a study of 334 cases with myocardial infarction
and 882 controls, who were selected randomly from the general population in the
same region. The shift-work exposure was assessed from the occupational code,
and from an interview of 14 500 people belonging to a random sample of
households in Sweden. The results showed that shift work was associated with
myocardial infarction [age-standardized relative risk (RR) = 1.25, 95% CI =
0.97–1.62].

In a study by Peter et al., who found chronic psychosocial work
stress—according to the model of effort-reward imbalance—to mediate the effects
of shift work on cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and
atherogenic lipids, suggest a correlation between stressful psychosocial work
environment, shift work and hypertension.

According to Westerberg et al., functional gastrointestinal disorders, i.e.
medically unexplained abdominal symptoms, are more frequent in shift workers,
However, they are as well associated with other potential hazards to
gastrointestinal functioning such as anxiety and depression. Both of which are
correlated to somatoform disorders independently from work schedule issues.

In a cross-sectional study from China, night shift work was found as a
predictor of greater severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Due to the economic, industrial and social developments in industrialized
countries, shift work and irregular work patterns are becoming more and more
inevitable. Regulation of working hours by taking into consideration the
problems that may occur in employees will contribute to improving the quality
of life.

 

 

Keywords: health
effects, shift work, work stress

Keywords

Health effects of the shift work system

References

• Didem Ata Yüzügüllü, Necdet Aytaç, Muhsin Akbaba Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Adana