Effects of fatigue on immune function in nurses performing shift work

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Occupational Health
• Chronobiology

Background:

• Shift work is prevalent in healthcare, potentially impacting worker health.
• Fatigue is a common complaint among shift workers, but its specific effects on immune function require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the longitudinal effects of shift work on natural killer (NK) cell function and lymphocyte subpopulations in nurses.
• To determine if the degree of fatigue influences these immune changes.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 57 female nurses on a rotating three-shift system.
• Immune parameters (NK cell activity, lymphocyte subsets) were measured across shift cycles.
• Participants were stratified by fatigue levels, and analyses adjusted for demographic factors and sleep duration.

Main Results:

• Subjective fatigue increased progressively throughout the shift cycle.
• NK cell activity and CD16(+)CD56(+) lymphocytes decreased, while CD3(+) and CD4(+) lymphocytes increased from day to night shifts.
• Higher fatigue levels correlated with greater reductions in NK cell activity and increases in CD4(+) lymphocytes.

Conclusions:

• Shift work adversely affects NK cell function, with effects intensifying with increased fatigue.
• Managing shift work schedules may mitigate fatigue and associated health issues in healthcare workers.