title: Metabolic disturbances in male workers with rotating three-shift work. Results of the WOLF study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between important metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes in shift workers and day workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from a sub-population in the WOLF study consisting of 665 day workers and 659 three-shift workers in two plants were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher proportion of shift workers than day workers had high triglyceride levels (> or =1.7 mmol/l), low levels of HDL-cholesterol (<0.9 mmol/l) and abdominal obesity (waist/hip ratio>0.9). The risk of low HDL-cholesterol was doubled in shift workers, (odds ratio (OR): 2.02, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.24-3.28) after being adjusted for age, socio-economic factors, physical activity, current smoking, social support and job strain. High levels of triglycerides were also significantly associated with shift work (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.08-1.83). The OR for abdominal obesity was 1.19, (95% CI: 0.92-1.56). The prevalence of hyperglycaemia (serum glucose > or =7.0 mmol/l) was similar in day and shift workers. No significant interaction was seen between shift work and abdominal obesity with regard to the associations with triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a significant association between shift work and lipid disturbances (i.e. low HDL-cholesterol and high triglyceride levels). We did not find any association with hyperglycaemia.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, University of Umeå, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden.bernt.karlsson@vll.se
authors.forename: Berndt H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Anders K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Knutsson
authors.forename: Bernt O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.forename: Lars S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Alfredsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides