High cardiovascular and cortisol reactivity to stressful tasks are predictors of increased future cardiovascular risk. Few studies have investigated the impact of shift work on cardiovascular reactivity, and none have examined cortisol reactivity. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiovascular and cortisol stress reactivity in female shift workers (SW) versus non-shift workers (NSW). Nineteen SW (40 AE 11 years) and 19 NSW (42 AE 11 years) participated. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at rest, and during each minute of a speech (5 min) and mental arithmetic (5 min) stress task. Serum cortisol was measured pre-and poststress task (immediately and 15 min post). Values are means AE SD. Peak increases in DBP during the task did not differ between groups (p ¼ .261), however, analyzed over time there was an interaction such that DBP increased significantly more in SW during the fifth minute of the speech task (p ¼ .035). There were no group differences in heart rate or systolic blood pressure responses. The increase in cortisol also did not differ between groups (ÁSW: 5.5 AE 7.5 mg/dL, ÁNSW: 1.8 AE 2.9 mg/dL, p ¼ .165). However, when compared separately, the increase in cortisol from baseline to peak poststress was significant in SW (p ¼ .013) but not in NSW (p ¼ .125). In conclusion, these preliminary data suggest that shift work exposure may have a modest influence on cardiovascular and cortisol reactivity. Further research is necessary to fully characterize and explore the importance of stress reactivity in this population.
High cardiovascular reactivity to stressful tasks is a predictor of increased future cardiovascular risk and may play a mechanistic role in disease progression. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between acute cardiovascular stress reactivity and indicators of vascular health status in shift workers (SW) and non‐shift workers (NSW). Female hospital employees were recruited. 18 NSW and 19 SW (minimum 6 yrs experience) participated. Blood pressure (Finometer), central pulse wave velocity (PWV) (carotid to femoral; applanation tonometry) and common carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) (echo ultrasound) were assessed at rest. With continued blood pressure assessment, participants then completed a 20 min mental stress task with speech and arithmetic components (based on the Trier Social Stress Test). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity was quantified as the difference between the resting baseline SBP and the SBP during the stress task. Data are mean ± SD. SW and NSW did not differ with respect to age (42 ± 11 yrs, p=0.563), central PWV (6.6 ± 1.3 m/s, p=0.416), IMT (0.47 ± 0.11 cm, p=0.207) or SBP reactivity (20.3 ± 11.2 mmHg, p=0.717). In NSW there was no relationship between SBP reactivity and either PWV (p=0.789; r=0.07) or IMT (p=0.876; r=0.06). In contrast in SW, both PWV (p=0.032; r=0.507) and IMT (p=0.062; r=0.435) increased with increasing SBP reactivity. These data suggest that shift work experience may alter the relationship between cardiovascular stress reactivity and vascular health. Garfield Kelly Cardiovascular Research and Development fund, KGH.
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