Shiftwork and the Retinal Vasculature Diameters Among Police Officers

Abstract

Objective To investigate associations of central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), a measure of retinal arteriolar width, and central retinal venular equivalents (CRVE), a measure of retinal venular width, with shiftwork in 199 police officers (72.9% male). Methods Shiftwork (day, afternoon, night) was assessed using electronic payroll records. Four digital retinal images per officer were taken. Mean diameters of the retinal vasculature were compared across shifts using ANOVA/ANCOVA. Results Among all officers (mean age=46.6±6.8 years), shiftwork was not significantly associated with CRAE or CRVE. However, among current and former smokers, night shift officers had a wider mean (±SE) CRVE (230.0±4.5 μm) compared with day shift officers (215.1±3.5 μm); adjusted p=0.014. Conclusions Night shift schedule in current and former smokers is associated with wider retinal venules. Reasons for this association are not known. Longitudinal studies are warranted.

Law Enforcement Officers Have an Increased Prevalence of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease That Is Not Explained by Traditional Risk Factors

“…Assessments of the retinal microvasculature of officers from this same department have been reported. 32,33 While these results were not formally compared to a nonofficer cohort, normative data presented elsewhere 34 suggests that these officers may have decreased retinal arterial diameters. Finally, Keeler and colleagues 35 assessed carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, a marker of arterial stiffness, in a group of 70 officers.…”

“…However, Joseph and coworkers 30,31 found officers to have higher carotid intimal media thicknesses 30 and lower brachial artery flow-mediated dilation 31 than nonofficers. Assessments of the retinal microvasculature of officers from this same department have been reported 32,33 . While these results were not formally compared to a nonofficer cohort, normative data presented elsewhere 34 suggests that these officers may have decreased retinal arterial diameters.…”