Shift Work and Vascular Events: Systematic Review & Meta‑analysis (BMJ)
Summary
This BMJ systematic review and meta-analysis combined data from 34 studies involving more than two million people to examine the cardiovascular risks of shift work. Compared with daytime workers, shift workers had a modestly higher risk of heart attack, ischemic stroke, and other coronary events. The risks varied across studies, and evening shifts were not linked to increased coronary disease. Importantly, shift work was not associated with higher overall or cardiovascular mortality.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
This large analysis shows that shift work can raise the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, even if it doesn’t shorten lifespan overall. Night and rotating schedules, in particular, were tied to more heart attacks and strokes. For workers, this makes regular cardiovascular checkups and heart-healthy habits especially important. For employers and policymakers, it reinforces that how shifts are scheduled can affect long-term public health.
Notes
BMJ meta‑analysis; broad occupational coverage.