Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
An industry-based cohort study of the association between weight gain and hypertension risk among rotating shift
Tatsuhiko Kubo1, Yoshihisa Fujino, Takehiro Nakamura
1Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. kubo@med.uoehu.ac.jp
Objectives:
We investigated whether the association between shift work and hypertension is independent of weight gain.
Methods:
Subjects were 10,173 male employees (9209 daytime workers, 964 three-shift workers; mean follow-up period: 12.7 years). Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or more or diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or more. The risk of developing hypertension among shift workers was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model with adjustment for several factors.
Results:
Analysis revealed that "shift work" (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68, 2.03), "baseline body mass index" (HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.15), and "increase in body mass index during follow-up" (HR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.17) were significant independent risk factors for hypertension.
Conclusions:
Shift work is a significant risk factor for hypertension that is independent of both starting weight and weight gained over years of work.
Related Concept Videos
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension I: Introduction
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction while...
Hypertension V: Nursing Management