Alterations in Rev-ERBα/BMAL1 ratio and glycated hemoglobin in rotating shift workers: the EuRhythDia study

Abstract

Objective To detect premature gluco-metabolic defects among night shift workers with disturbances in circadian rhythms. Design and methods We performed a hypothesis-generating, cross-sectional analysis of anthropometric, metabolic, lipid, and inflammation parameters, comparing active (a-NSW, n = 111) and former (f-NSW, n = 98) rotating night shift workers with diurnal workers (controls, n = 69). All participants were hospital nurses. We also evaluated the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and assessed expression of transcription factors REV-ERBα and BMAL1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as indicators of the molecular clock. Results Both a-NSW and f-NSW participants had significantly higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and white blood cell counts (WBC) (p < 0.001 for both), PSQI global score (p = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure levels (p = 0.024) compared with controls. Expression of REV-ERBα/BMAL1 RNA in PBMC was significantly higher in a-NSW (p = 0.05) than in f-NSW or control participants. Multivariate regression analysis showed that working status and PSQI were independent determinants of higher HbA1c levels (p < 0.001). Conclusions We demonstrated that young, healthy night shift workers show subclinical abnormalities in HbA1c and changes in peripheral clock gene expression.

Physical Activity as a Predictor of the Level of Stress and Quality of Sleep during COVID-19 Lockdown

“…The influence of working time on sleep quality can be observed among healthcare workers who face the challenge of severe epidemic and insufficient time for rest, which results in chronic stress and psychological distress [ 26 ] and, consequently, to sleep disturbances. Poor quality of sleep can be related to stress as well as to circadian rhythm disruption, increasing the risk of severe metabolic disorders [ 29 ]. Additionally, the accumulation of intensive thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic could, in turn, lead to difficulties in falling asleep and a decrease in QS.…”

Factors Associated with Pre-Vaccination SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk among Hospital Nurses Facing COVID-19 Outbreak

“…This association could be the result of a strong workload during prolonged night shifts that might lead to a decrease in attention in the use of protective devices. However, whether the circadian misalignment and the disruption of rhythmic expression of clock genes (Per2, Rev-ERBα, and BMAL1) [ 16 ] in night shift workers could lead to a major risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and development of a more severe disease remains to be determined.…”

The relationship between the elevation of haemoglobin A1c level, sleep quality and sleep duration in clinically diagnosed pre-diabetic patients in a nationally representative sample

“… 10 In healthy individuals, glucose tolerance varies across the day such that plasma glucose response to exogenous glucose is markedly higher in the evening than in the morning, and glucose tolerance is at its minimum in the middle of the night. 30 …”

“…25,27,28 However, epidemiologic studies on the relationship between SD, SQ and the development of T2DM have shown varying results. 18,25,29 Rizza et al (2021) 30 analysed alterations in HbA1c in both active and former night shift workers with disturbed circadian rhythms to determine premature gluco-metabolic defects. They concluded that apparently healthy young nurses doing rotating night shifts showed mild but significant increases in HbA1c levels compared with diurnal workers, independently of sex, age and BMI.…”

“…10 In healthy individuals, glucose tolerance varies across the day such that plasma glucose response to exogenous glucose is markedly higher in the evening than in the morning, and glucose tolerance is at its minimum in the middle of the night. 30 Sex differences have been found to affect sleep patterns, 31 with SQ, SD and latency differing dependent on gender. 32 Sleep latency is described as the length of time it takes to fall asleep.…”