Comparison of coronary microcirculation in female nurses after day-time versus night-time shifts

Nightshift work, which is known to cause mental stress and disrupt normal biological diurnal rhythms, leads to endothelial dysfunction resulting in increased risk for cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the acute effect of night-shift work on coronary microcirculation through assessment of coronary flow reserve (CFR) by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. This study consisted of 36 women nurses who underwent transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic examinations after working a nightshift and on a regular day without previous nightshift work. Flow velocity in the distal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery was measured at baseline and during adenosine infusion. CFR was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to basal mean diastolic flow velocity. CFR after night work was lower than that on a regular workday (3.8 ± 0.6 vs 4.1 ± 0.6, p <0.001). Degree of decreases in CFR after night work was correlated to Framingham risk score (r = 0.35, p = 0.036). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that coronary microcirculation was impaired after nightshift work in women nurses.