Shift work is associated with increased risk of COVID-19: Findings from the UK Biobank cohort
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Shift work is associated with increased risk of COVID-19 : Findings from the UK Biobank cohort. / Fatima, Yaqoot; Bucks, Romola S.; Mamun, Abdullah A.; Skinner, Isabelle; Rosenzweig, Ivana; Leschziner, Guy; Skinner, Timothy C.
In: Journal of Sleep Research, Vol. 30, No. 5, 10.2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Shift work is associated with increased risk of COVID-19
T2 - Findings from the UK Biobank cohort
AU - Fatima, Yaqoot
AU - Bucks, Romola S.
AU - Mamun, Abdullah A.
AU - Skinner, Isabelle
AU - Rosenzweig, Ivana
AU - Leschziner, Guy
AU - Skinner, Timothy C.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Despite the strong evidence on circadian rhythm disruption in shift workers and consequent increased vulnerability for infection, longitudinal association between shift work and COVID-19 infection is unexplored. In this study, data from UK Biobank participants who were tested for COVID-19 infection (16 March to 7 September 2020) were used to explore the link between shift work and COVID-19 infection. Using the baseline occupational information, participants were categorised as non-shift workers, day shift workers, mixed shift workers and night shift workers. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between shift work and COVID-19 infection. Among the 18,221 participants (9.4% positive cases), 11.2% were health workers, and 16.4% were involved in shift-work-based jobs. Ethnic minorities (18%) and people in night-shift-based jobs (18.1%) had a significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19 infection than others. Adjusted logistics regression model suggest that, compared with their counterparts, people employed in a night-shift-based job were 1.85-fold (95% CI: 1.42–2.41) more likely to have COVID-19 infection. Sensitivity analysis focusing on people working in a non-healthcare setting suggests that people in shift-work-based jobs had 1.81-fold (95% CI: 1.04%–3.18%) higher odds of COVID-19 infection than their counterparts. Shift workers, particularly night shift workers, irrespective of their occupational group, seem to be at high risk of COVID-19 infection. If similar results are obtained from other studies, then it would mandate to revisit the criteria for defining high-risk groups for COVID-19 and implementing appropriate interventions to protect people in shift-based jobs.
AB - Despite the strong evidence on circadian rhythm disruption in shift workers and consequent increased vulnerability for infection, longitudinal association between shift work and COVID-19 infection is unexplored. In this study, data from UK Biobank participants who were tested for COVID-19 infection (16 March to 7 September 2020) were used to explore the link between shift work and COVID-19 infection. Using the baseline occupational information, participants were categorised as non-shift workers, day shift workers, mixed shift workers and night shift workers. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between shift work and COVID-19 infection. Among the 18,221 participants (9.4% positive cases), 11.2% were health workers, and 16.4% were involved in shift-work-based jobs. Ethnic minorities (18%) and people in night-shift-based jobs (18.1%) had a significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19 infection than others. Adjusted logistics regression model suggest that, compared with their counterparts, people employed in a night-shift-based job were 1.85-fold (95% CI: 1.42–2.41) more likely to have COVID-19 infection. Sensitivity analysis focusing on people working in a non-healthcare setting suggests that people in shift-work-based jobs had 1.81-fold (95% CI: 1.04%–3.18%) higher odds of COVID-19 infection than their counterparts. Shift workers, particularly night shift workers, irrespective of their occupational group, seem to be at high risk of COVID-19 infection. If similar results are obtained from other studies, then it would mandate to revisit the criteria for defining high-risk groups for COVID-19 and implementing appropriate interventions to protect people in shift-based jobs.
KW - ethnic minorities
KW - occupation
KW - UK Biobank
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102317210&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jsr.13326
DO - 10.1111/jsr.13326
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33686714
AN - SCOPUS:85102317210
VL - 30
JO - Journal of Sleep Research
JF - Journal of Sleep Research
SN - 1365-2869
IS - 5
ER -
ID: 259039573