Klokwerk + study protocol: An observational study to the effects of night–shift work on body weight and infection susceptibility and the mechanisms underlying these health effects

BMC Public Health

Study Protocol

Linda W. van Kerkhof¹  Debbie van Baarle²  Bette Loef³  Karin I. Proper³  Allard J. van der Beek⁴  Daniëlla van de Langenberg⁵ 

[1] Center for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands;Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands;Center for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands;Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;

关键词: Night–shift work;    Body weight;    Infection susceptibility;    Sleep;    Physical activity;    Diet;    Light exposure;    Vitamin D;    Immunological factors;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-3317-1

 received in 2016-07-07, accepted in 2016-07-15,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNight–shift work may cause severe disturbances in the worker’s circadian rhythm, which has been associated with the onset of health problems and diseases. As a substantial part of the workforce is exposed to night–shift work, harmful aspects of night–shift work should not be overlooked. The aim of the Klokwerk + study is to study the effects of night–shift work on body weight and infection susceptibility and the mechanisms underlying these health effects. First, we will study the relation between night–shift work exposure and body weight and between night–shift work exposure and infection susceptibility. Second, we will examine the mechanisms linking night–shift work exposure to body weight and infection susceptibility, with a specific focus on sleep, physical activity, diet, light exposure, vitamin D level, and immunological factors. Lastly, we will focus on the identification of biomarkers for chronic circadian disturbance associated with night–shift work.Methods/designThe design of this study is a prospective observational cohort study consisting of 1,960 health care workers aged 18–65 years. The study population will consist of a group of night–shift workers and an equally sized group of non–night–shift workers. During the study, there will be two measurement periods. As one of the main outcomes of this study is infection susceptibility, the measurement periods will take place at approximately the first (September/October) (T0) and the last month (April/May) (T1, after 6 months) of the flu season. The measurements will consist of questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, a smartphone application to determine infection susceptibility, food diaries, actigraphy, light sensors, and blood sample analyses.DiscussionThe Klokwerk + study will contribute to the current need for high–quality data on the health effects of night–shift work and its underlying behavioral and physiological mechanisms. The findings can be the starting point for the development of interventions that prevent negative health effects caused by night–shift work. In addition, the identification of biomarkers indicative of loss of homeostasis due to circadian disturbance may be an important asset in monitoring the effects of such interventions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016