Hypertension is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Various factors such as occupational and environmental risk factors affect blood pressure. Shift work is considered to be an occupational stressor. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between rotating shift work and blood pressure among nurses working in hospitals associated with faculty of medical science. This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytic study was conducted on nurses who worked in three hospitals associated with faculty of medical science, located in Abadan, southwest of Iran from September until December 2019. The sample size was 120 participants and divided into 60 rotating shift workers and 60 day workers (non-shift workers). The nurses were selected through the stratified random sampling technique. Demographic data, smoking status, and medical and occupational history were collected through a check list and interviews. Blood pressure was measured using a digital sphygmomanometer. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U, chi-square, Pearson's correlation coefficient and logistic regression by using SPSS software version 22. There was statistically significant difference in blood pressure between day workers and rotating shift workers (p ≤ 0.001). By logistic regression analyses, and even after adjusting for confounding variables, rotating shift work was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension (OR: 1.76 [95%CI: 1.11-2.80]). The findings of this study showed that rotating shift workers have a higher incidence of hypertension than day workers. Therefore, a particular follow-up of rotating shift workers should be recommended to screen workers for hypertension.
Keywords: Blood pressure; circadian rhythm; hypertension; nurses; shift work.