Search

Recently, there has been interest in whether shift work may enhance susceptibility to infection. Our aim was to determine whether shift workers in the health-care field have a higher incidence, duration, and/or severity of influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) than non–shift workers. From September 2016 to June 2017, 501 rotating and/or night-shift workers and 88 non–shift workers from the Klokwerk+ Study (the Netherlands, 2016–2017) registered the occurrence of ILI/ARI symptoms daily using a smartphone application. The incidence rate of ILI/ARI (defined as ≥2 symptoms on the same day/≥1 symptom on 2 consecutive days), the mean duration of each episode, and the incidence rate of severe episodes were compared between shift workers and non–shift workers using negative binomial regression and linear mixed-model analysis. In total, participants completed 110,347 diaries. Shift workers' incidence rate of ILI/ARI was 1.20 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.43) times higher than that of non–shift workers, and for severe ILI/ARI episodes, shift workers' incidence rate was 1.22 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.49) times higher. The mean duration of an ILI/ARI episode did not differ (ratio between means = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.19). In conclusion, shift workers in health care had more ILI/ARI episodes and more severe ILI/ARI episodes than non–shift workers, but with a similar duration. Insight into underlying mechanisms connecting shift work and infection susceptibility will contribute to the design of preventive initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is unknown whether an increase in societal participation is important for individuals with a chronic disease. This study explores whether having paid work, volunteer activities or informal care giving differs for individuals with a chronic disease and those without. Methods Respondents (n = 1779) aged 55–64 years who participated in the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam in 2002/2003 or 2012/2013 were included. We tested differences in (combinations of) performing paid work, volunteer activities or informal care giving between participants with and without a chronic disease by regression analyses, while taking into account sociodemographic confounders and effect modification by year. Results Having a chronic disease was associated with having paid work in 2002/2003 (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 04–0.7), but not in 2012/2013 (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.4–1.1). Work participation of participants with (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0–2.2) and without a chronic disease (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3–3.9) increased in 2012/2013. Participants with a chronic disease are more likely to participate in volunteer activities than paid work. No statistically significant associations were found between having a chronic disease and informal care giving. Conclusion Participation in paid work differs between individuals aged 55–64 years with a chronic disease and those without, but participation in informal care giving did not. Individuals with a chronic disease are more likely to participate in volunteer activities than paid work. Future research should focus on differences in societal participation within heterogeneous group of individuals with a chronic disease, since differences may be present in subgroups with specific chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The relation between shift work and a large variety of cardiometabolic risk factors is unclear. Also, the role of chronotype is understudied. We examined relations between shift work and cardiometabolic risk factors, and explored these relations in different chronotypes. Methods Cardiometabolic risk factors (anthropometry, blood pressure, lipids, diabetes, γ-glutamyltransferase, C-reactive protein, uric acid and estimated glomerular filtration rate) were assessed among 1334 adults in 1987–91, with repeated measurements every 5 years. Using shift work history data collected in 2013–15, we identified shift work status 1 year prior to all six waves. Linear mixed models and logistic generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the longitudinal relations between shift work and risk factors 1 year later. Results Shift work was not significantly related with cardiometabolic risk factors (P ≥ 0.05), except for overweight/body mass index. Shift workers had more often overweight (OR: 1.44, 95% CI 1.06–1.95) and a higher body mass index (BMI) (β : 0.56 kg m−2, 95% CI 0.10–1.03) than day workers. A significant difference in BMI between day and shift workers was observed among evening chronotypes (β : 0.97 kg m−2, 95% CI 0.21–1.73), but not among morning chronotypes (β : 0.04 kg m−2, 95% CI −0.85 to 0.93). No differences by frequency of night shifts and duration of shift work were observed. Conclusion Shift workers did not have an increased risk of cardiometabolic risk factors compared with day workers, but, in particular shift working evening chronotypes, had an increased risk of overweight. More research is needed to verify our results, and establish whether tailored interventions by chronotype are wanted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]