Persistent rotating shift work exposure is a tough second hit contributing to abnormal liver function among on-site workers having sonographic fatty liver

Asia Pac J Public Health. 2015 Mar;27(2):NP1765-74. doi: 10.1177/1010539512469248. Epub 2012 Dec 13.

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between elevated serum alanine-transaminase (e-ALT) and persistent rotating shift work (p-RSW) among employees with sonographic fatty liver (SFL), the authors performed a retrospective analysis on a cohort of electronics manufacturing workers. The records of 758 workers (507 men, 251 women) with initially normal ALT and a mean age of 32.9 years were analyzed. A total of 109 workers (14.4%) developed e-ALT after 5 years. Compared with those having neither initial SFL nor p-RSW exposure, multivariate analysis indicated that employees who had initial SFL but without p-RSW finally had a higher risk (odds ratio = 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7-5.1) for developing e-ALT; workers with baseline SFL plus p-RSW had a 3.7-fold increased risk (95% CI = 1.8-7.5). SFL poses a conspicuous risk for the development of e-ALT, and persistent p-RSW exposure significantly aggravates the development of e-ALT among on-site workers with preexisting SFL.

Keywords: electronics manufacturing industry; elevated serum alanine-transaminase; rotating shift work; sonographic fatty liver; workers cohort.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Fatty Liver / blood
  • Fatty Liver / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fatty Liver / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ultrasonography
  • Work Schedule Tolerance*
  • Workplace / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Alanine Transaminase