Relationship between Rotating Night Shift and Lipid Profile in Minia mills, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Public Health and Occupational Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

Abstract

Background: The advent of the 24 hour society has resulted in a need for greater flexibility in 
working time patterns and, in many cases, an increase in night working. In the twentieth century, 
night working was associated with manufacturing in larger plants where three eight hour shifts tended 
to be a typical pattern with full time employees alternating between early, middle and late shifts. hift 
work exerts major influences on the physiological functions of the human body. Several studies have 
suggested that rotating night shift work is associated with an increased risk of obesity and metabolic 
syndrome. This study investigated the relationship between shift work and lipid profile. Aim of the 
study: to identify whether rotating shift workers are more prone to dyslipidemia than day shift 
workers in Minia mills. Subjects and methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study which 
carried out in Minia mills, Egypt, during the period from September 2018 to March 2019. This study 
was conducted among 107 workers who were agreed to be interviewed and participate in this study. 
Data were collected by a questionnaire included demographic data, anthropometric measurements and 
laboratory tests were performed. Results: This study found higher levels of all components of lipid 
profile (Total cholesterol, HDL and LDL) among shift workers compared to day workers but without 
statistical significance. Regarding LDL ≥130 mg/dl, percentage of rotating shift workers with LDL 
≥130 mg/dl was significantly higher than percentage of daytime workers (34.5% compared to 15.4%), 
and the percentage of persons had TG ≥ 150mg/dl was significantly higher among shift workers, 
where 90.9% of them had TG ≥ 150mg/dl compared to 62.3% of day time workers (p=0.001). 
Conclusion: Shift work was associated with lipid profile disorders in Minia mills. Recommendation:
Health system programs especially designed for shift-workers, including diet and exercise, must be 
stressed and regularly assessed.

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