The relationship between job type and development of cerebral stroke in a large, longitudinal cohort study of workers in a railway company in Japan

Shift work and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease incidence among Chinese rail workers: a 4-year longitudinal cohort study

PURPOSE

Occupational harmful factors, such as shift work, are attracting increasing attention as a potential cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we aimed to identify the association between shift work and NAFLD incidence in Chinese rail population.

METHODS

A cohort study was conducted among 14,112 rail workers for 4-year follow-up. Shift work frequency and other potential variables were recorded by questionnaires, including demographic, lifestyle, and occupation information. Besides, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were measured by anthropometric measurement and blood test. Diagnosis of new NAFLD case was based on abdominal ultrasonography. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine whether shift work has effect on occurrence of NAFLD.

RESULTS

The incidence of NAFLD was 30.43% in total subjects. After adjustment for possible confounders, the RRs of NAFLD were 1.069 (95% CI 0.998-1.146) and 1.179 (95% CI 1.059-1.312) in occasionally shift work group and frequently shift work group respectively, compared to the seldom shift work group. In stratified analyses, the RRs of NAFLD incidence linked to shift work exposure seems increase among female and elder. The results of three sensitivity analyses were similar with main analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This research provided further evidence of positive harmful effect of shift work on NAFLD incidence in Chinese rail workers, particularly in frequently shift work population. The risk estimate of shift work on NAFLD was higher in female and elder.

DYNAMICS OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN RAILWAY CREWS

Aim. To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RF) and dynamics over 4 years in locomotory crews.

Material and methods. One hundred train drivers and assistants aged 25-59 y.o. (mean age — 43,8±10,3 y.) were investigated in-patient with 24 hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring, ultrasound Doppler of brachiocephalic arteries, standard biochemistry. Fifty three persons were assessed prospectively from 2013 to 2017 y.

Results. BP increase (essential hypertension of I-II grades with mild or moderate hypertension) was found in 78 persons, with the mean duration — 10,4±4,3 years, and age of onset — 37,0±8,5 y.o. Most commonly, the dyslipidemiaswerefound:hypertriglyceridemiain59%,hypercholesterolemia in 44%. Smokers — 39%, overweight — 37%, obese — 41%. Correlational analysis revealed significant direct correlation of triglycerides with body mass index (r=0,35), with glucose tolerance disorder (r=0,22) and hypertension (r=0,22), however there was negative correlation with smoking status (r=-0,25). In patients with hypertension, aged 25-39 (n=18), comparing to the group with the none (n=22), there were significantly higher: body mass index, cholesterol level, triglycerides level and low density lipoproteideslevelwiththeabsenceofdifferenceinhighdensitylipoproteides, smoking prevalence and family anamnesis of cardiovascular diseases. In prospective follow-up the negative dynamics of lipid profile was found in males of 25-39 y.o., and morphological presentation — lesions in brachiocephalic arteries, at the age 40-49 y. with stabilization of parameters at the age 50-59 y.o. Mean group levels of systolic and diastolic BP at daytime and at night in both timepoints were within normotension range in all groups, corresponding to “non-dipper” type.

Conclusion. Most prevalent RF in railway crews were dyslipidemia and obesity. The adequacy of therapy prescribed in all age strata makes it to regard the raise of BP as modifiable RF.

Diabetes associated with early labor-force exit: a comparison of sixteen high-income countries

The economic burden of diabetes and the effects of the disease on the labor force are of substantial importance to policy makers. We examined the impact of diabetes on leaving the labor force across sixteen countries, using data about 66,542 participants in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe; the US Health and Retirement Survey; or the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. After matching people with diabetes to those without the disease in terms of age, sex, and years of education, we used Cox proportional hazards analyses to estimate the effect of diabetes on time of leaving the labor force. Across the sixteen countries, people diagnosed with diabetes had a 30 percent increase in the rate of labor-force exit, compared to people without the disease. The costs associated with earlier labor-force exit are likely to be substantial. These findings further support the value of greater public- and private-sector investment in preventing and managing diabetes.