The influence of sedentary and shift work on work ability and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Introduction/Objective In modern society, there is an increasing number of occupations that require sedentary work, and an increasing need for such work to be performed in shifts. This study examined how these two work modalities affect the work ability and health status of workers.

Methods The study included taxi drivers and sanitary workers, further subclassified into two groups depending on their shift work. The Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire was used to assess the work ability of participants. Also, anthropometric measurements and the determination of standard biochemical parameters and the levels of soluble adhesion molecules – intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in blood samples, before and after work, were used to evaluate the impact of sedentary and shift work on the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Results Night-shift taxi drivers (TD-NS) had significantly lower total WAI scores compared to day-shift sanitary workers (SW-DS). The WAI3, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile of study participants indicated that these two groups also differed in the number of obese and hypertensive individuals. Although the study groups did not differ in sICAM-1 levels, sVCAM-1 levels of TD-NS were significantly higher than those of SW-DS both before and after work.

Conclusion Sedentary and shift work have synergistic effects in reducing work ability and promoting CVD development by modifying traditional risk factors.

Keywords: sedentary work; shift work; work ability; obesity; hypertension