Title
The association between shift work and possible obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Date Issued
01 November 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Yang C.C.
Lee K.W.
Watanabe K.
Kawakami N.
Publisher(s)
Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Abstract
Background: Shift work is a workschedule, since industrial era and some employees work in shift. It causes a desynchronization of the biological clock with consequences on sleep amount and quality, such as insomnia and easy fatigue. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the sleep problems that are getting more and more attention, but studies on the association between shift work and OSA were rare. Herein, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between shift work and possible OSA. Methods: This study was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We queried PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases using a related set of keywords. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) participants were adult employees hired by a company or organization; (2) exposure was shift work; and (3) outcome was possible OSA according to examination or assessment. Results: We included six studies in the systematic review and five studies were selected for further meta-analysis. A random-effects model showed an association of shift work with a small, non-significant increase in possible OSA cases (pooled prevalence relative risk = 1.05; 95% CI 0.85–1.30; p = 0.65). This association occurred in both healthcare and non-healthcare workers group. Conclusion: The association between shift work and possible OSA remains inconclusive and could be small if not negligible. Future studies should assess the association between specific work schedules and specific OSA definitions. Trial registration number: PROSPERO ID: CRD42020156837
Start page
1763
End page
1772
Volume
94
Issue
8
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Sistema respiratorio Salud ocupacional
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85102285548
PubMed ID
Source
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
ISSN of the container
03400131
Sponsor(s)
This study was supported by Takeda Science Foundation (2019 International Fellowship Program). The authors would like thank Professor Hung-Yi Chuang (College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University), Professor Chao-Hung Kuo (Superintendent of Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital), Professor Ming-Feng Hou (Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital), Professor Yen-Hsu Chen (Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital), Professor Chia-Yen Dai (Secretary-General of Kaohsiung Medical University), Dr. Chao-Ling Wang (Director of Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital), Dr. Chia-I Lin (Director of Health Management Center, Kaohsiung Municipal Tatung Hospital), and Dr. Chun-Ying Lee (Director of Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital) for their cooperation.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus