Interplay between rotational work shift and high altitude-related chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia on cardiovascular health and sleep quality in Chilean miners

Abstract

Mining activities expose workers to diverse working conditions, rotational shifts and high altitude-related hypobaric hypoxia. Separately, each condition has been reported having a negative impact on miners’ health risk; however, the combination of both stressors has been poorly explored. The present study aimed to analyse the effects of exposure to rotational work shift (RWS) alone or in combination with high altitude-related chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) on cardiometabolic, physical activity and sleep quality related markers in copper miners from Los Pelambres mine in Chile. One hundred and eleven male miners working in RWS with or without CIHH were included. Anthropometrics measures, sleep quality assessment, physical activity level (PAL) and handgrip strength were evaluated. Exposure to CIHH exacerbated the detrimental effects of RWS as miners exposed to the combination of RWS and CIHH where more obese and had a wider neck circumference, reduced PAL at work and worsened sleep quality.

Practitioner summary: The purpose was to assess cardiometabolic health and sleep quality markers associated with the combined effects of rotational shift work and high altitude-related intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in miners. Findings showed a wider neck circumference, lower physical activity level and higher prevalence of poor sleep quality in exposed miners.

Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; BM: body mass; BMI: body mass index; CI: confidence intervals; CIHH: chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia; CV: cardiovascular; CVR: cardiovascular risk; HA: high altitude; HACE: high-altitude cerebral edema; HGS: handgrip strength; IPAQ-SF: International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form; LSD: Fisher's least standardized difference; MANCOVA: multivariate general lineal model; MET: metabolic equivalent; PAL: physical activity level; PSQI: Pittsburg sleep quality index; RWS: rotational work shift; WHR: waist-to-hip ratio

Keywords:

• High altitude
• chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia
• rotational shift work
• cardiovascular risk

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance from the Health Unit at mina Los Pelambres and all the workers for their collaboration during this the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest associated with this manuscript.

Authors contribution

CPM and JCL designed the study. CPM collected the data, CPM, JCL, ARP and MFO analysed and interpreted the results, wrote and revised the manuscripts. All authors are fully responsible for all content and editorial decisions and were involved at all stages of manuscript development, and have approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.