Metabolic syndrome in shift healthcare workers

The predictive capability of several anthropometric indices for identifying the risk of metabolic syndrome and its components among industrial workers

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is closely associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify practical methods that could enable the effective identification of MetS based on anthropometric indices. The basis of our study involved retrospective database obtained from routine medical prophylactic examinations. This was a cross-sectional study on the health status of male workers employed in hazardous working conditions at industrial enterprises in the Ural region conducted in 2019. A total of 347 male workers employed under hazardous working conditions were investigated. The presence of MetS was established by a healthcare professional in accordance with the guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Simple linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between anthropometric indices and MetS incidence. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratios of MetS in relation to increases in anthropometric indices. ROC curves were calculated to compare the ability of each anthropometric index to predict MetS and to determine the diagnostic thresholds of the indicators considered. According to the IDF criteria, 36.3% of the workers had MetS. A direct relationship was found between the individual components of MetS and the anthropometric indices studied. The highest OR was shown by the Body Roundness Index (BRI) of 2.235 (95% CI 1.796-2.781). For different age quartiles, the optimal cut-off values for predicting MetS were as follows: BRI, 4.1-4.4 r.u.; body shape index (ABSI), 0.080-0.083 m11/6 kg-2/3; and lipid accumulation product (LAP), 49.7-70.5 cm mmol/l. The most significant associations with MetS were observed where the values were greater than these cut-off points (Se = 97.4%). The results of this study demonstrated the rapid use of new anthropometric indicators, which have shown good predictive ability and are quite easy to use.

Occupational Risk for Coronary Artery Disease in Shift Workers - A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) prevention in shift workers (SWs) poses a significant challenge worldwide, as CAD remains a major cause of mortality and disability. In the past, SWs were found at higher risk of CAD than non-s SWs. Nevertheless, the pathogenic mechanism between shift work and CAD to date is unclear. This systematic review aims to enhance understanding of the risk of CAD occurrence in SWs.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted from January 2013 to December 2023. MEDLINE/Pubmed databases were used initially, and additional relevant studies were searched from references. Shift work was defined as any schedule outside traditional shifts, including the night shift.

RESULTS

Fifteen pertinent papers were categorized into risk assessment or risk management. Findings demonstrated an increased risk of CAD among SWs compared to non-SWs, with an increased CAD risk observed for both shift work and night shift work.

DISCUSSION

Duration-response associations indicate that greater shift exposure is linked to higher CAD risk. SWs incur an increased risk of CAD through the atherosclerotic process. As shift work duration increases as the risk of atherosclerosis is higher, workers demonstrate a higher prevalence and severity of coronary artery plaques.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence-based results underscore the increased risk of CAD in SWs and are sufficient for proposing guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of CAD in SWs and at managing people with CAD in return to work characterized by disrupted circadian rhythms.

Association between metabolic syndrome and healthcare work status in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Introduction

metabolic syndrome portends an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death. Evidence showed that healthcare workers are at higher risk of cardiovascular events because of their engagement in night-shift work. Therefore, this study determined the association between metabolic syndrome and healthcare work status in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Methods

this was a cross-sectional study involving 105 healthcare workers and 143 non-healthcare workers. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made based on the International Diabetic Federation criteria: abdominal obesity plus, any two of: elevated blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg or previous diagnosis of hypertension on the use of antihypertensive medications; impaired fasting glucose; elevated triglycerides; and low HDL-cholesterol. Factors associated with metabolic syndrome were analysed using univariable and multivariable analysis.

Results

men comprised 37.9% of the study population and the mean age was 42.1 ± 9.7 years. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was similar in both groups (HCWs-29.5% vs non-HCWs- 28.0%, p-value=0.789); overall prevalence was 28.6%. Abdominal obesity, elevated total cholesterol and elevated LDL-cholesterol occurred more frequently in HCWs than in non-HCWs: (68.6% vs 55.2%, p-value=0.034; 65.7% vs 39.2%, p-value= < 0.001 and 50.5 vs 28.7%; p-value < 0.001) respectively. Female sex (aOR: 3.67, 95% CI: 1.74-7.45; p < 0.001) and obesity (aOR: 4.39, 95% CI: 2.31-8.37; p < 0.001) were associated with metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

a similar prevalence of metabolic syndrome was observed in the healthcare workers and the non- healthcare workers. However, abdominal obesity, elevated total cholesterol and elevated LDL-cholesterol occurred more frequently in healthcare workers than in non- healthcare workers.

Are night shift workers at an increased risk for COVID-19?

Recent data has revealed an association between coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) incidence and seasonally regulated androgen sensitivity. This potential relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and clock genes, coupled with previously reported effects of night shift work on health, leads us to hypothesize that night shift workers may be at an increased physiological risk of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Shift work, especially night shift work, has long been associated with several chronic health conditions. The mechanisms that drive these associations are not well understood; however, current literature suggests that the disruption of circadian rhythms may cause downstream hormonal and immune effects that render night shift workers more susceptible to disease. First, circadian rhythms may play a role in the mechanism of viral infection, as viral vaccines administered in the morning elicit greater immune responses than those administered in the afternoon. Next, increased exposure to light at night may inhibit the production of melatonin, which has been observed to enhance DNA repair and shown to upregulate expression of Bmal1, an established inhibitor of herpes simplex virus and influenza. Finally, abnormal immune cell and cytokine levels have been observed following night-shift work. These data suggest that further research is warranted and that high-risk occupations should be taken into consideration as public health policies are introduced and evolve.