Division of Endocrinology, University of Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile.
J Clin Densitom. 2010 Oct-Dec;13(4):467-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jocd.2010.07.004.
Shift workers have been reported to have an increased bone resorption. However, no existing evidence indicates lower bone mineral density (BMD) in this group. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that a rotating-shift work schedule is associated with low BMD and osteoporosis. We evaluated 70 postmenopausal nurses from the Naval Hospital in Concepcion, Chile. The participants were categorized according to the type of work schedule: 39 had a rotating shift and 31 were daytime workers. Medical history, a health examination, a questionnaire on health-related behaviors and biochemical determinations, and BMD examination were obtained for all participants. When comparing the 2 groups, the rotating-shift workers had lower BMD in the lumbar spine (L1-L4: 0.957 ± 0.15 vs 1.104 ± 0.13; p<0.05) and lower bone density in both femoral neck bones (right: 0.936 ± 0.17 vs 1.06 ± 0.12; p<0.05 and left: 0.956 ± 0.19 vs 1.05 ± 0.12; p<0.05). Additionally, the T-scores for 10 (25.6%) of the rotating-shift workers indicated osteoporosis at lumbar spine (T-score>-2.5). No evidence of osteoporosis was found for daytime workers. When comparing the 2 groups, the rotating-shift workers had a higher prevalence of osteopenia (T-score=-1.0 to -2.5) than the daytime workers: 46.2% vs 35.5%, respectively. We found significant evidence that rotating-shift workers have lower BMD in the trabecular and cortical bones, thus suggesting that this type of work may be a risk factor for osteoporosis. Because this is the first time that this osteoporosis risk factor has been reported, the association needs to be replicated and confirmed in other settings.
轮班工人的骨质吸收增加已有报道。然而，目前没有证据表明这一群体的骨矿物质密度（BMD）较低。本研究的目的是检验以下假设，即轮班工作时间表与低 BMD 和骨质疏松症有关。我们评估了智利康塞普西翁海军医院的 70 名绝经后护士。根据工作时间表的类型对参与者进行分类：39 名是轮班工人，31 名是白班工人。所有参与者都接受了病史、健康检查、健康相关行为和生化测定问卷以及 BMD 检查。在比较这两组时，轮班工人的腰椎（L1-L4：0.957 ± 0.15 与 1.104 ± 0.13；p<0.05）和双侧股骨颈骨（右侧：0.936 ± 0.17 与 1.06 ± 0.12；p<0.05 和左侧：0.956 ± 0.19 与 1.05 ± 0.12；p<0.05）的 BMD 较低。此外，10 名（25.6%）轮班工人的腰椎 T 评分表明骨质疏松症（T 评分>-2.5）。白班工人没有发现骨质疏松症的证据。在比较这两组时，轮班工人的骨质疏松症发生率（T 评分=-1.0 至-2.5）高于白班工人：分别为 46.2%和 35.5%。我们有充分的证据表明，轮班工人的皮质骨和小梁骨的 BMD 较低，这表明这种工作类型可能是骨质疏松症的一个危险因素。由于这是首次报告这种骨质疏松症的危险因素，因此需要在其他环境中复制和确认这种关联。
