Effects of Shift Work in a Sample of Italian Nurses: Analysis of Rest-Activity Circadian Rhythm

Letizia Galasso, Antonino Mulè, Lucia Castelli, Emiliano Cè, Vincenzo Condemi, Giuseppe Banfi, Eliana Roveda, Angela Montaruli and Fabio Esposito
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Letizia Galasso: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy
Antonino Mulè: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy
Lucia Castelli: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy
Emiliano Cè: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy
Vincenzo Condemi: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy
Giuseppe Banfi: IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161 Milan, Italy
Eliana Roveda: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy
Angela Montaruli: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy
Fabio Esposito: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: Shift work can lead to circadian desynchronization due to temporary misalignment between working hours and physiological and behavioral functioning, resulting in compromised health, insomnia, worsening of sleep quality, reduced ability to work during waking hours, and increased cardiovascular risk. We evaluated the effects of shift work on the rest-activity circadian rhythm (RAR) and health status of Italian orthopaedic nurses. The study population was 59 nurses: 44 worked the night shift and 15 worked the day shift. All carried out continuous 5-day actigraphic monitoring to assess RAR, including both the working and the rest period. The rhythmometric analysis showed that, during the working period, the night shift nurses had a significantly lower amplitude than the day shift nurses ( p < 0.001), and the acrophase was significantly different between the two groups ( p < 0.01). When we stratified the two groups by median body mass index (<25 kg/m 2 normal weight and ?25 kg/m 2 overweight), during the working period, we noted a significantly lower amplitude for both the normal weight and the overweight nurses who worked the night shift ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, normal weight and overweight respectively). The current findings suggest the need for further study of the relationship between activity levels and shift work.

Keywords: activity levels; actigraphic monitoring; shift work; nurses; health care; occupational health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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