Epidemiological Evidence Public Health of Shift Work Circadian Disorders on Population Health
Research Article
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Epidemiological Evidence Public Health of Shift Work Circadian Disorders on Population Health

Tailin Chen 1*
1 Aquinas International Academy
*Corresponding author: chentalia317@gmail.com
Published on 23 October 2025
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TNS Vol.146
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-477-9
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-478-6
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Abstract

Shift work and night-shift schedules disrupt circadian rhythms, causing chronic misalignment between internal clocks and environmental cycles—an issue increasingly recognized as a key determinant of population health. This study synthesizes epidemiological studies and mechanistic evidence to explore circadian disruption’s impact on population health and corresponding public health responses. Epidemiological studies consistently correlate shift work with heightened cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorder, malignancy, and mental disorder risk; mechanistic evidence supports correlations as circadian disruption alters endocrine regulation, suppresses glucose metabolism and reduces neurophysiologic clearance with sleep. Risks are concentrated disproportionately, with women, older adults, health care providers, and poor individuals carrying greater burdens as a result of biological and structural determinations. Current responses at the population health level are sparse and require personal (e.g., light exposure), organizational (e.g., schedule planning) and policy (e.g., protective regulation) intervention. Recognition of circadian disruption as an occupational hazard is fundamental for reduction of its global burden of illness and highlights extreme population health significance.

Keywords:

Night-shift work, circadian disruption, epidemiology, metabolic disorders, public health interventions.

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Chen,T. (2025). Epidemiological Evidence Public Health of Shift Work Circadian Disorders on Population Health. Theoretical and Natural Science,146,1-8.

References

[1]. Scheer, F. A., Hilton, M. F., Mantzoros, C. S., et al. (2009). Adverse metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of circadian misalignment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(11), 4453-4458.

[2]. Costa, G. (2010). Shift work and health: current problems and preventive actions. Safety and health at Work, 1(2), 112-123.

[3]. Vyas, M. V., Garg, A. X., Iansavichus, A. V., et al. (2012). Shift work and vascular events: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 345, e4800.

[4]. Spiegel, K., Tasali, E., Penev, P., et al. (2004). Brief communication: sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Annals of internal medicine, 141(11), 846-850.

[5]. Erren, T. C., Morfeld, P., Groß, J. V., et al. (2019). IARC 2019: “Night shift work” is probably carcinogenic: What about disturbed chronobiology in all walks of life?. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 14(1), 29.

[6]. Boivin, D. B., Boudreau, P., & Kosmadopoulos, A. (2022). Disturbance of the circadian system in shift work and its health impact. Journal of biological rhythms, 37(1), 3-28.

[7]. Torquati, L., Mielke, G. I., Brown, W. J., et al. (2018). Shift work and the risk of cardiovascular disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis including dose–response relationship. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 44(3), 229-238.

[8]. Yang, X., Di, W., Zeng, Y., et al. (2021). Association between shift work and risk of metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 31(10), 2792-2799

[9]. Pan, A., Schernhammer, E. S., Sun, Q., et al. (2011). Rotating night shift work and risk of type 2 diabetes: two prospective cohort studies in women. PLoS medicine, 8(12), e1001141.

[10]. Travis, R. C., Balkwill, A., Fensom, G. K., Appleby, P. N., Reeves, G. K., Wang, X. S., ... & Beral, V. (2016). Night shift work and breast cancer incidence: three prospective studies and meta-analysis of published studies. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 108(12), djw169.

[11]. Lee, A., Myung, S. K., Cho, J. J., et al. (2017). Night shift work and risk of depression: meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Korean medical science, 32(7), 1091.

[12]. Turek, F. W., Joshu, C., Kohsaka, A., et al. (2005). Obesity and metabolic syndrome in circadian Clock mutant mice. Science, 308(5724), 1043-1045.

[13]. Xie, L., Kang, H., Xu, Q., et al. (2013). Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain. science, 342(6156), 373-377.

[14]. Moon, J., Ikeda-Araki, A., & Mun, Y. (2024). Night shift work and female breast cancer: a two-stage dose-response meta-analysis for the correct risk definition. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2065.

References

[1]. Scheer, F. A., Hilton, M. F., Mantzoros, C. S., et al. (2009). Adverse metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of circadian misalignment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(11), 4453-4458.

[2]. Costa, G. (2010). Shift work and health: current problems and preventive actions. Safety and health at Work, 1(2), 112-123.

[3]. Vyas, M. V., Garg, A. X., Iansavichus, A. V., et al. (2012). Shift work and vascular events: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 345, e4800.

[4]. Spiegel, K., Tasali, E., Penev, P., et al. (2004). Brief communication: sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Annals of internal medicine, 141(11), 846-850.

[5]. Erren, T. C., Morfeld, P., Groß, J. V., et al. (2019). IARC 2019: “Night shift work” is probably carcinogenic: What about disturbed chronobiology in all walks of life?. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 14(1), 29.

[6]. Boivin, D. B., Boudreau, P., & Kosmadopoulos, A. (2022). Disturbance of the circadian system in shift work and its health impact. Journal of biological rhythms, 37(1), 3-28.

[7]. Torquati, L., Mielke, G. I., Brown, W. J., et al. (2018). Shift work and the risk of cardiovascular disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis including dose–response relationship. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 44(3), 229-238.

[8]. Yang, X., Di, W., Zeng, Y., et al. (2021). Association between shift work and risk of metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 31(10), 2792-2799

[9]. Pan, A., Schernhammer, E. S., Sun, Q., et al. (2011). Rotating night shift work and risk of type 2 diabetes: two prospective cohort studies in women. PLoS medicine, 8(12), e1001141.

[10]. Travis, R. C., Balkwill, A., Fensom, G. K., Appleby, P. N., Reeves, G. K., Wang, X. S., ... & Beral, V. (2016). Night shift work and breast cancer incidence: three prospective studies and meta-analysis of published studies. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 108(12), djw169.

[11]. Lee, A., Myung, S. K., Cho, J. J., et al. (2017). Night shift work and risk of depression: meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Korean medical science, 32(7), 1091.

[12]. Turek, F. W., Joshu, C., Kohsaka, A., et al. (2005). Obesity and metabolic syndrome in circadian Clock mutant mice. Science, 308(5724), 1043-1045.

[13]. Xie, L., Kang, H., Xu, Q., et al. (2013). Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain. science, 342(6156), 373-377.

[14]. Moon, J., Ikeda-Araki, A., & Mun, Y. (2024). Night shift work and female breast cancer: a two-stage dose-response meta-analysis for the correct risk definition. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2065.

Cite this article

Chen,T. (2025). Epidemiological Evidence Public Health of Shift Work Circadian Disorders on Population Health. Theoretical and Natural Science,146,1-8.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICMMGH 2026 Symposium: Biomedical Imaging and AI Applications in Neurorehabilitation

ISBN: 978-1-80590-477-9(Print) / 978-1-80590-478-6(Online)
Editor: Sheiladevi Sukumaran, Alan Wang
Conference website: https://www.icmmgh.org/auckland.html
Conference date: 14 November 2025
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.146
ISSN: 2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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