A study relating shift work to the parameters of metabolic syndrome among nurses in a medical center

For nursing staff, shift work is inevitable, and it may change related health behaviors. The effects of these factors on the occurrence of metabolic syndrome is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of shift work and related health behaviors with the parameters of metabolic syndrome among nursing staffs. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 129 healthy nursing staffs were recruited. Questionnaires were administered to obtain the subjects' demographic characteristics and health behaviors. Parameters of metabolic syndrome were also measured. Results: After adjustment for the effects of covariates, a linear regression model showed independent positive associations between rotating shift work and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (p < 0.01), and fixed-night shift work and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (p < 0.01), respectively. In addition, nursing staffs with body mass index ≥ 24 Kg/m2 also had an independent positive association with waist circumference (p < 0.01) and triglyceride (p =0.04), and an independent negative association with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (p < 0.01). Sleep quality index score ≥ 5 also had an independent positive association with triglyceride (p = 0.05). There was no relationship between behaviors including daily refined sugar consumption from tea drinks and parameters of metabolic syndrome in nursing staffs. Conclusions: Increased body mass index and poor sleep quality is associated with higher triglyceride. Shift work, especially rotating shift work and fixed-night shift work, may result in an elevated risk of parameters of metabolic syndrome among nursing staffs.