Night Shift Work & Asthma Risk: New Research
- Women who work night shifts are more prone to moderate or severe asthma than their daytime counterparts, according to research published in ERJ Open Research.The study, encompassing over...
- Robert Maidstone, of the University of Manchester, and colleagues led the study.
- "Our previous research indicated a higher risk of moderate or severe asthma in night shift workers,prompting us to investigate potential sex-based differences," Maidstone said.
New research reveals a concerning link between night shift work and increased asthma risk in women. This groundbreaking study, published in ERJ Open Research, indicates women working overnight have a considerably higher chance of developing moderate to severe asthma compared to their daytime counterparts. The findings, based on data from over 270,000 individuals, highlight the potential impact of circadian rhythm disruption on respiratory health.While the study found no such correlation for men, this sheds light on potential sex differences in asthma triggers. News Directory 3 examines the disruption of the body clock, potentially hormone levels as possible factors. Future research promises deeper insight to offer protection. Discover what’s next in asthma research.
Night Shift Work Tied to Higher Asthma Risk in Women
Women who work night shifts are more prone to moderate or severe asthma than their daytime counterparts, according to research published in ERJ Open Research.The study, encompassing over 270,000 individuals, found no such correlation in men.
Dr. Robert Maidstone, of the University of Manchester, and colleagues led the study. Maidstone noted that asthma disproportionately affects women, who often experience more severe cases, higher hospitalization rates, and increased mortality from asthma compared to men.
“Our previous research indicated a higher risk of moderate or severe asthma in night shift workers,prompting us to investigate potential sex-based differences,” Maidstone said.
Analyzing data from the UK Biobank, researchers examined 274,541 working individuals. Of these, 5.3% had asthma, with 1.9% classified as having moderate or severe asthma,requiring both a preventer inhaler and at least one other treatment,such as oral steroids. Participants were categorized by work schedule: day shifts only, night shifts only, or a combination.
The analysis revealed that women in shift work are generally more likely to have asthma. Specifically, women working exclusively night shifts had a roughly 50% higher chance of suffering from moderate or severe asthma compared to women working only during the day.
In contrast,menS asthma risk did not vary based on day or night shift work.
“This is the first study to assess sex differences in the association between shift work and asthma,” Maidstone said.”We observed that permanent night shift workers had greater odds of moderate-severe asthma compared to day workers.”
The researchers suggest that the disruption of the body clock, including hormone levels, may explain the link between shift work and asthma. Prior research suggests high testosterone levels may protect against asthma, perhaps explaining the increased risk in women. Job type differences between men and women in shift work could also be a factor.
the study also found that postmenopausal women not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) nearly doubled their risk of moderate or severe asthma when working nights compared to day work.
“Our findings suggest HRT might offer protection against asthma for night shift workers; however, further prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed,” maidstone added.
Future research will explore the role of sex hormones in the relationship between shift work and asthma, utilizing data from the UK Biobank and Our Future Health.
Professor Florence Schleich, an expert on airway diseases with the European Respiratory Society, emphasized the need for further inquiry. “This research suggests that working night shifts could be a risk factor for asthma in women, but not in men. We need further research to verify and understand this link and find out what could be done to reduce the risk for women who work shifts,” she said.
The study, “Increased risk of asthma in female night shift workers,” appeared in ERJ Open Research.