Salivary melatonin and cortisol and occupational injuries among Italian hospital workers.
Stress, circadian patterns, and sleep-related factors may have a role on occupational injuries. We investigated the association between occupational injuries among the workers of an Italian hospital and their secretion of salivary melatonin and cortisol. We used a case-control study design. 27 injured cases and 31 non-injured controls provided 5 salivary samples every 60 min from 9 pm to 1 am. Melatonin and cortisol concentrations were measured, and the Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) derived using two fixed thresholds (1 and 3 pg/mL). The associations between injury, melatonin, cortisol, and DLMO were assessed through univariate and multivariate analyses. Non-injured controls had higher melatonin (median 2.28 pg/mL) and lower cortisol concentrations (0.71 ng/mL), as well as earlier DLMO times (9:00 pm with the 1 pg/mL melatonin cutoff) than cases (1.01 pg/mL, 1.14 ng/mL and 9:12 pm, respectively), although only few results were statistically significant. Measuring these hormones might be helpful to characterize the risk of injury among hospital workers.
Unit of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy. valent.francesca@aoud.sanita.fvg.it.|Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. valent.francesca@aoud.sanita.fvg.it.|Epidemiologic Service, Regional Health Directorate, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Udine, Italy. valent.francesca@aoud.sanita.fvg.it.
Francesca
F
Valent
Unit of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Marika
M
Mariuz
Unit of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Giulia
G
Liva
Laboratory Analysis Test, Modena, Italy.
Sara
S
Verri
Laboratory Analysis Test, Modena, Italy.
Sara
S
Arlandini
Laboratory Analysis Test, Modena, Italy.
Roberto
R
Vivoli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D008550:Melatonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
Case–control study; Circadian rhythm; Dim light melatonin onset; Hospital workers; Injury