Impact of Shift Work on the Circadian Timing System and Health in Women

Laura Kervezee; Ari Shechter; Diane B Boivin

doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.04.003

Impact of Shift Work on the Circadian Timing System and Health in Women

Sleep Med Clin. 2018 Sep;13(3):295-306. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.04.003.

Authors

Laura Kervezee¹, Ari Shechter², Diane B Boivin³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada.
² Department of Medicine, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, Room 9-300B, New York, NY 10032, USA.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 30098749
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.04.003

Abstract

Women who do shift work are a sizable part of the workforce. Shift workers experience circadian misalignment due to shifted sleep periods, with potentially far-reaching health consequences, including elevated risk of sleep disturbances, metabolic disorders, and cancer. This review provides an overview of the circadian timing system and presents the sex differences that can be observed in the functioning of this system, which may account for the lower tolerance to shift work for women compared with men. Recent epidemiologic findings on female-specific health consequences of shift work are discussed.

Keywords: Chronobiology; Circadian clock; Circadian misalignment; Sex differences; Shift work; Sleep; Women.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Shift Work Schedule*
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / physiopathology*
Women's Health*