Simultaneous effect of shift work on blood pressure and lipid profile: a path analysis.

The aim of this study was to assess the direct and indirect effects of shift work (SW) on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and lipid profile of male workers. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 6539 male workers of Esfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company. From all of the participants, 3065 (46.8%) were day workers and the remainder were shift workers. The results of path analysis revealed that the most effective variables on SBP were body mass index, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and SW with a total effect of 0.241, 0.095, 0.064 and 0.056, respectively.

The relationship between shift work and Framingham risk score: A five-year prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is a small number of studies that considered the relationship between shift work (SW) and Framingham risk score (FRS). This study prospectively examined the association between SW and FRS among man workers based on the multilevel modeling approach. METHODS: This five-year prospective cohort study was done among workers (using stratified random sampling) who work in Esfahan's Mobarakeh Steel Company (EMSC), Iran, from March 2011 to February 2015. RESULTS: The study sample included 1626 man workers (mean age = 40.0 ± 6.2). Among these subjects, 652 (40.01%), 183 (11.3%) and 791 (48.6%) were day workers, weekly rotating shift workers and routinely rotating, respectively. After controlling unbalanced variables, there was no any significant association between SW and FRS. CONCLUSION: The results of this prospective cohort study did not show a relationship between SW and FRS.

Multicenter historical cohort study of the relationship between shift work and blood pressure.

BACKGROUND: Regarding the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and shift work (SW), previous studies have reported contradictory results. In the present study, we used Bayesian multilevel modeling to evaluate the association of SW and BP after controlling some confounding factors. METHODS: Data of this multicenter historical study were extracted from annual observations of the male workers of Isfahan's Mobarakeh Steel Company (IMSC) and Polyacryl Iran Corporation (PIC) in Isfahan, Iran, between 2003 and 2011. In this research, we assessed the effect of SW on systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DPB) with controlling body mass index, age, work experience, marriage, and education status. RESULTS: A total of 8613 (IMSC, n = 5314 and PIC, n = 3299) workers participated in this study with a mean [standard deviation (SD)] age of 41.60 (8.30) and mean (SD) work experience of 16.17 (7.89) years. In this study, after controlling confounding factors, we found no significant relationship between SW and SBP and DBP. CONCLUSION: In general, the results of this multicenter cohort study did not support a relationship between SW and BP. We suggest prospective studies with controlling more confounding factors in this area.

Hypertension control in industrial employees: findings from SHIMSCO study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension prevention and control are among the most important public health priorities. We evaluated the impacts of a workplace intervention project "Stop Hypertension in Mobarakeh Steel Company" (SHIMSCO) on controlling hypertension in industrial workers. METHODS: The study was carried out in Mobarakeh Steel Company in Isfahan among 7286 male workers and employees. All individuals were evaluated for the presence of hypertension (HTN). According to examinations, 500 subjects with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg, and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or those using antihypertensive medications were confirmed to have HTN and thus included in this study. They were questioned for sociodemographic characteristics, past medical history and medication use. They received an educational program including healthy lifestyle and self-care recommendations of HTN management and control as well as training for accurate blood pressure measurement and home monitoring for two years. SBP, DBP, weight, height and routine lab tests were measured for all hypertensive subjects before and after the interventions. Paired t-test, generalized estimation equation (GEE) and ordinary linear regression (OLR) were used for statistical analysis in SPSS. RESULTS: The comparison of SBP and DBP before and after the educational program showed significant reductions in both parameters (-7.97 ± 14.72 and -2.66 ± 9.96 mmHg, respectively). However, a greater decrease was detected in case of DBP. GEE showed SBP and DBP to decrease about -0.115 and -0.054 mmHg/month. OLR also revealed reductions of 4.88 and 2.57 mmHg respectively in SBP and DBP upon adding each antihypertensive drug. CONCLUSION: SHIMSCO, a 3-year interventional project in workplaces, was effective in reducing SBP and DBP among hypertensive employees and workers. We conclude that implementing simple educational programs in worksites can improve the management and control of hypertension and perhaps other chronic diseases.