Association between Shift Work and Metabolic Syndrome: A 4-Year Retrospective Cohort Study

(1) Background: Previous studies on the association between shift work and metabolic syndrome have had inconsistent results. This may be due to the cross-sectional study design and non-objective data used in those studies. Hence, this study aimed to identify risk factors for Metabolic syndrome using objective information provided by the relevant companies and longitudinal data provided in health examinations. (2) Methods: In total, 1211 male workers of three manufacturing companies, including shift workers, were surveyed annually for 4 years. Data on age, smoking, drinking, physical activity, length of shift work, type of shift, past history, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, triglyceride, and high-density cholesterol (HDL) were collected and analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to identify the risk factors for Metabolic syndrome. (3) Results: In the multivariate analysis of Metabolic syndrome risk factors, age (OR = 1.078, 95% CI: 1.045-1.112), current smoking (OR = 1.428, 95% CI: 1.815-5.325), and BMI (OR = 1.498, 95% CI: 1.338-1.676) were statistically significant for day workers (n= 510). Additionally, for shift workers (N = 701), age (OR = 1.064, 95% CI: 1.008-1.174), current smoking (OR = 2.092, 95% CI: 1.854-8.439), BMI (OR = 1.471, 95% CI: 1.253-1.727) and length of shift work (OR = 1.115, 95% CI: 1.010-1.320) were statistically significant. Shift work was associated with a higher risk of Metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.093, 95% CI: 1.137-2.233) compared to day workers. For shift workers, shift work for more than 20 years was associated with Metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.080, 95% CI: 1.911-9.103), but the dose-response relationship was not statistically significant. (4) Conclusions: This study revealed that age, current smoking, BMI, and shift work are potential risk factors for Metabolic syndrome. In particular, the length of shift work (>20 years) is a potential risk factor for Metabolic syndrome in shift workers. To prevent metabolic syndrome in shift workers, health managers need to actively accommodate shift workers (especially those who have worked for more than 20 years), current smokers, and obese people. A long-term cohort study based on objective data is needed to identify the chronic health impact and the risk factors of shift work.