Relationship between shift work and age-related macular degeneration: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012)

Abstract

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness. Shift work has well-known adverse effects on health. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between shift work and AMD. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between shift work and AMD. Methods This study used aggregated data from the 2010–2012 cycles of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The work schedules were classified into 2 types: day work and shift work. AMD was determined using fundus photographs. The χ 2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to assess sex-stratified relationship between shift work and AMD. Results The odds ratio (OR) of AMD in male shift workers was higher (1.54 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.01–2.36]) than that in male day workers after adjusting for covariates. After dividing into subgroups of the shift work pattern, the OR of AMD in male night shift workers was higher (1.75 [95% CI: 1.07–2.85]) than that in male day workers after adjusting for covariates. However, results of the female worker group were not significant. Conclusions The results of this study provide limited support for the hypothesis that shift work is related to AMD. Further prospective studies are needed to define the relationship between shift work and AMD.

Sunlight exposure and eye disorders in an economically active population: data from the KNHANES 2008-2012

“… 12 15 16 17 These studies were also limited to specific occupations 7 11 33 34 or diseases. 35 36 37 …”

A study on employee experience with shift work

“…Shift work allows the organization to achieve optimal use of available resources and meet the higher demand for produced goods or provided services. On the other hand, shift work is more organizationally and financially demanding, brings additional administrative and labor costs by having more shifts and workers in operation, and includes potentially negative impacts on shift workers' performance and well-being (Kim et al, 2021), which concerns in particular rotating shift designs with twelve-hour or longer shifts (Dall'Ora et al, 2016). Another source of reduced shift workers' performance and well-being is instability in shift work schedules, which causes general job dissatisfaction (Schneider & Harknett, 2019).…”