Sleep Traits, Night Shift Work and Lung Cancer Risk among Women: Results from a Population-Based Case-Control Study...

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Occupational Health
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Circadian rhythm disruption from night shifts and sleep disorders are linked to adverse health outcomes, including cancer.
• Evidence linking these factors to lung cancer risk is limited compared to breast and prostate cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between sleep disorders, night shift work, and lung cancer risk in women.
• To explore potential modifying effects of smoking and night work duration on these associations.

Main Methods:

• Population-based case-control study with 716 lung cancer cases and 758 controls.
• Multivariable logistic regression analysis to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
• Assessment of sleep duration, sleep disorders, chronotype, and night shift work exposure.

Main Results:

• A U-shaped association was observed between sleep duration and lung cancer risk, with longer sleep (≥8 hours) showing an increased OR (1.39).
• No overall association was found between lung cancer and the sleep disorder index or night shift work.
• Elevated OR for the sleep disorder index were noted in current smokers, and the U-shaped sleep duration association was more pronounced with ≥5 years of night work.

Conclusions:

• Sleep patterns, particularly longer sleep duration, may be associated with lung cancer risk in women.
• Night shift work duration and tobacco smoking may modify this association, highlighting the complex interplay of lifestyle and environmental factors in lung carcinogenesis.