Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders and the risk of dyslipidemia among railway workers in southwest China: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Railway workers are more likely to have an irregular work schedule, which had an effect on their circadian rhythm of sleep, and may lead to circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (CRSWDs). The association between CRSWDs and dyslipidemia in railway workers is poorly understood. The objective of this research is to study the association between CRSWDs and the risk of dyslipidemia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among railway workers in Southwest China. CRSWDs were assessed by the morningness-eveningness questionnaire self-assessment version (MEQ-SA). The blood samples were collected in the morning and the lipids of participants were measured. Associations of CRSWDs with dyslipidemia and its components were analyzed. A total of 8079 participants were enrolled in this study, and the results revealed that shift work sleep disorder (SWD) and advanced sleep-wake phase disorder (ASWPD) were associated with a higher risk of dyslipidemia (OR 1.17, 95%CI 1.06–1.29, P < 0.01; OR 1.68, 95%CI 1.09–2.64, P < 0.05) after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyles, in comparison with the control group. As for its components, the SWD group was associated with a higher risk of elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein than the control group, while the ASWPD group was associated with a higher risk of elevated total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (P < 0.05). In summary, SWD and ASWPD participants were associated with a higher risk of dyslipidemia in railway workers in Southwest China.

Abbreviation: TG: triglyceride; TC: Total cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; FPG: fasting plasma glucose. MEQ-SA: morningness-eveningness questionnaire self-assessment version; IPW: inverse-probability weighting; HDS: healthy diet scores; FFQ: food frequency; PA: physical activity; IQAP-SF: international physical activity questionnaire short form; MET-min/wk: metabolic equivalent task minutes per week; BMI: body mass index; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; HBP: hypertension; DM: diabetes; CVD: cerebrovascular disease; OR: odds ratios; CI: confidence intervals.

KEYWORDS:

• Circadian rhythm
• sleep disorder
• dyslipidemia
• night shift work

Acknowledgments

We appreciated the cooperation of the Chengdu Railway Bureau.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author’s contributions

Dong CH and Yang SJ put forward the design and conception of this study. Dong CH, Tang L, Yang B, and Pan J completed data collection and manuscript writing. Liu HY and Dong CH participated in part of the data analysis, and Dong CH, Yang B, and Zeng HL participated in part of the manuscript preparation. Zeng HL and Yang SJ gave some important suggestions on article revision. All authors have read and agreed to the published vision of the manuscript.

Consent for publication

All coauthors have seen and agree with the contents of the manuscript.

Data availability material

The data can be obtained by contacting the corresponding author.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Because this study is observational, patients were not involved. At the time of the physical examination of the participants, we informed the patients in writing their physical examination data may be used for scientific research. And this study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University (PJ2021-037-02).

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by Clinical Medical College& Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University (2020YYZ42). The study was funded by the “Young Talents” program of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University.