[Night shift and the risk of hormone-dependent diseases in women]

From cards of follow-up of industrial contingent passing preventive medical examinations, the frequency of disorders of the reproductive sphere and the endocrine system in 208 women employed in shift work including the night shift was investigated in comparison with 102 female members of administrative and managerial staff The relative risk (RR) of all investigated pathologies associated with employment in night shifts, was 1.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-2.18). The increased risk of mastitis (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.95-1.35), and a uterine myoma (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00-1.36) was on the border of statistical significance. Endometriosis was significantly more frequent in the study group: RR = 1.23 (1.04-1.45). The risk of developing ovarian cysts was not significantly lower: RR = 0.94 (95% CI: 0.72-1.24). In connection with the employment in night shifts increased risk of all endocrine diseases was observed on the border of statistical significance: RR = 1.18 (95% CI: 0.99-1.40), including the development of obesity: RR = 1.22 (95% CI 1.05-1.43). The frequency of diabetes in the group of workers with night shifts was statistically significantly higher (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.84-1.51). The pathology of the thyroid gland in the study group occurred less frequently than in the control one: RR = 0.88 (95% CI: 0.73-1.07). These data are preliminary, but they are consistent with the available experimental and epidemiological data.