a Corporate Health Management, BASF SE , Ludwigshafen am Rhein , Germany.
Chronobiol Int. 2019 Jun;36(6):784-795. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2019.1586719. Epub 2019 Mar 18.
The objective of this study was to examine the association of age with chronotype and sleep duration in day workers and rotating shift workers, including night shift work. Between October 2012 and February 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a German chemical company. Using the "Munich ChronoType Questionnaire" (MCTQ), data about sleep onset and sleep offset during workdays and work-free days were retrieved and the chronotype was computed during regular voluntary occupational health check-ups. Associations between age and chronotype, as well as sleep duration, were assessed using linear regression analyses. Potential effect modification by the working time system was examined. Within the study period, 4,040 employees (82.3% and 17.7% were engaged in day work and rotating shift work, respectively) completed the questionnaire. Study participants were on average 41.8 years old (Min = 18.0, Max = 65.0, SD = 10.2) and predominantly male (75.4%). Mean chronotype and overall sleep duration was 03:22 (SD = 54 min) and 7.2 h (SD = 1.0 h) respectively. Older age was associated with earlier chronotype and reduced overall sleep duration in both day workers and rotating shift workers (p < 0.001 for all models). Compared to day workers, employees whom engaged in rotating shift work were later chronotypes and had overall a longer sleep duration. With older age, the difference between day and rotating shift workers regarding chronotype increased, while the difference regarding overall sleep duration decreased (p<0.005 for both models). This finding could indicate that both changes in circadian physiology and exposure to certain work schedules contribute to the age-related changes. Older rotating shift workers, with early chronotypes may have issues with night shifts, while day work and morning shifts may be best compatible to earlier chronotypes. Differences in sleep timing across age groups, might indicate that the same work hours will affect shift workers differently, dependent on their age, suggesting that more flexible and chronotype-adapted work hours could provide useful; especially for older employees. Sleep education in the form of courses and health campaigns could be a way to raise awareness of the importance of a healthy sleep pattern. This could be achieved by learning strategies to better adjust individual sleep patterns to work hours.
本研究旨在探讨年龄与白班和轮班工人（包括夜班工人）的昼夜类型和睡眠时间之间的关系。2012 年 10 月至 2015 年 2 月，在一家德国化工公司进行了一项横断面研究。使用“慕尼黑昼夜类型问卷”（MCTQ），在工作日和休息日检索有关入睡和睡眠结束时间的数据，并在常规自愿职业健康检查期间计算昼夜类型。使用线性回归分析评估年龄与昼夜类型和睡眠时间之间的关联。检查了工作时间制度的潜在修饰作用。在研究期间，4040 名员工（分别有 82.3%和 17.7%从事白班和轮班工作）完成了问卷。研究参与者的平均年龄为 41.8 岁（最小= 18.0，最大= 65.0，标准差= 10.2），主要为男性（75.4%）。平均昼夜类型和总睡眠时间分别为 03:22（标准差= 54 分钟）和 7.2 小时（标准差= 1.0 小时）。年龄较大与白班和轮班工人的昼夜类型较早和总睡眠时间减少有关（所有模型 p<0.001）。与白班工人相比，从事轮班工作的工人昼夜类型较晚，总睡眠时间较长。随着年龄的增长，昼夜类型方面白班和轮班工人之间的差异增大，而总睡眠时间方面的差异减小（两个模型 p<0.005）。这一发现表明，昼夜生理变化和暴露于特定工作时间表都会导致与年龄相关的变化。年龄较大的轮班工人，昼夜类型较早，可能会出现夜班问题，而白班和早班可能与较早的昼夜类型最匹配。不同年龄组的睡眠时间差异可能表明相同的工作时间会因年龄的不同而对轮班工人产生不同的影响，这表明更灵活和适应昼夜类型的工作时间可能会更有用；特别是对于年长的员工。以课程和健康运动的形式进行睡眠教育可以提高人们对健康睡眠模式重要性的认识。这可以通过学习策略来更好地调整个人的睡眠模式以适应工作时间来实现。
