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Workplace
Original article
Association between night-shift work, sleep quality and metabolic syndrome
  1. Yin Cheng Lim1,
  2. Victor C W Hoe1,2,
  3. Azlan Darus3,
  4. Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy1,4
  1. 1 Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  2. 2 Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  3. 3 Prevention, Medical and Rehabilitation Division, Social Security Organization, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  4. 4 Faculty of Medicine, Julius Centre University of Malaya, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  1. Correspondence to Prof. Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; nirmala.bhoopathy{at}ummc.edu.my

Abstract

Objectives Occupational factors, particularly night-shift work, are attracting growing interest as a possible determinant of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to determine the association between night-shift work and MetS, and assess whether sleep quality is a mediating factor.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among Malaysian manufacturing workers, aged 40–65 years old. They completed a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographics, lifestyle and family history, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein levels were measured. Baron and Kenny’s method, Sobel test and multiple mediation models with bootstrapping were used to determine whether the PSQI global score or its components mediated the association between night-shift work and MetS.

Results Of the 494 participants, 177 (36%) worked night shift and 51% were men. The prevalence of MetS was 37%. Night-shift work was independently associated with a twofold increase in the risk of MetS (adjusted OR: 1.92, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.97). However, the association between night-shift work and MetS did not appear to be modified by sex. Night-shift workers also reported significantly poorer sleep quality, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction. Robust mediation analysis nonetheless showed that neither PSQI global score nor its components mediated the association between night-shift work and MetS.

Conclusion Early screening and management of MetS and the development of programmes to improve sleep quality should be carried out among night-shift workers. Future research should investigate other modifiable mediators linking night-shift work and MetS.

  • night-shift
  • sleep quality
  • cardiovascular risk factor
  • metabolic syndrome
  • shift work

https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105104

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors The study conception was by YCL and NB-P. YCL, VCWH and NB-P designed the study. YCL and AD collected the data. YCL, VCWH and NB-P conducted the statistical analysis and interpreted the results. YCL, VCWH, AD and NB-P drafted the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the submitted manuscript.

    • Funding This study was supported by the Postgraduate Research Grant (PPP), University of Malaya (PG139-2015A) for YCL. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Ethics approval Medical Ethics Committee of University Malaya Medical Centre.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data sharing statement All relevant data are within the paper and its supporting information files.