Antioxidant enzymes, occupational stress and burnout in workers of a prehospitalary emergency service.
BACKGROUND
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in many diseases and aging. Scavenging enzymes represent one of several natural defence mechanisms against ROS-induced damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase are enzymes that are involved in antioxidant defence. Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the activity of two antioxidant enzymes, SOD and catalase, and their variation according to demographic and occupational variables in workers of a prehospitalary emergency service, and to analyse the relationship between antioxidant enzyme activities and burnout 111 healthy workers of a prehospitalary emergency service were surveyed.


METHODS
SOD activity was analysed by the Minami and Yoshikawa method. Catalase activity was measured by the method of Aebi. To measure burnout, the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used.


RESULTS
No significant variations with respect to sex were detected in SOD and catalase activities and levels of burnout. Significant differences in SOD activity between the control group and workers of a prehospitalary emergency service (P<0.001) were found. SOD activity was higher in workers on night and evening shifts (P<0.001). These workers also obtained higher scores in burnout subscales, but without statistical significance.
Moragón
Angela Casado
AC
Departamento de Fisiopatología y Genética Molecular Humana, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain. acasado@cib.csic.es
De Lucas García
Nieves
N
Encarnación López Fernández
M
M
Rodriguez-Manzaneque
Alberto Sánchez
AS
Jimenez Fraile
José A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D013030:Spain; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase