Night-shift work increases morbidity of breast cancer and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 16 prospective cohort studies.
Night-shift work (NSW) has previously been related to incidents of breast cancer and all-cause mortality, but many published studies have reported inconclusive results. The aim of the present study was to quantify a potential dose-effect relationship between NSW and morbidity of breast cancer, and to evaluate the association between NSW and risk of all-cause mortality. The outcomes included NSW, morbidity of breast cancer, cardiovascular mortality, cancer-related mortality, and all-cause mortality. Sixteen investigations were included, involving 2,020,641 participants, 10,004 incident breast cancer cases, 7185 cancer-related deaths, 4820 cardiovascular end points, and 2480 all-cause mortalities. The summary risk ratio (RR) of incident breast cancer for an increase of NSW was 1.057 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.014-1.102; test for heterogeneity p = 0.358, I(2) = 9.2%]. The combined RR (95% CI) of breast cancer risk for NSW vs daytime work was: 1.029 (0.969-1.093) in the <5-year subgroup, 1.019 (1.001-1.038) for 5-year incremental risk, 1.025 (1.006-1.044) for 5- to 10-year exposure times, 1.074 (1.010-1.142) in the 10- to 20-year subgroup, and 1.088 (1.012-1.169) for >20-year exposure lengths. The overall RR was 1.089 (95% CI 1.016-1.166) in a fixed-effects model (test for heterogeneity p = 0.838, I(2) = 0%) comparing rotating NSW and day work. Night-shift work was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death (RR 1.027, 95% CI 1.001-1.053), and all-cause death 1.253 (95% CI 0.786-1.997). In summary, NSW increased the risk of breast cancer morbidity by: 1.9% for 5 years, 2.5% for 5-10 years, 7.4% for 10-20 years, and 8.8% for >20-years of NSW. Additionally, rotating NSW enhanced the morbidity of breast cancer by 8.9%. Moreover, NSW was associated with a 2.7% increase in cardiovascular death.
Department of Breast Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China; Department of Surgery, Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350014, China.
Xiaoti
X
Lin
Department of Physiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Weiyu
W
Chen
Department of Emergency, Fujian Provincial 2nd People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350000, China.
Fengqin
F
Wei
Department of Surgery, Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350014, China.
Mingang
M
Ying
Department of Breast Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Weidong
W
Wei
Department of Breast Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China. Electronic address: xiexiaoming001@gmail.com.
Xiaoming
X
Xie
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
Breast cancer; Meta-analysis; Morbidity; Mortality; Night-shift work; Prospective study