Genomic Landscape of Phenotypes Causally Associated with Night Shift Work

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Epidemiology
• Complex Disease Etiology

Background:

• Understanding the causal relationship between nighttime, siang, and evening (NSW) exposure and diverse health outcomes is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has suggested associations, but causal inference has been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal effects of nighttime, siang, and evening (NSW) exposure on a wide range of health traits using a phenome-wide approach.
• To identify specific health outcomes causally influenced by NSW exposure patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Mendelian randomization-phenome-wide association studies (MR-PheWAS) on 18,115 health traits.
• Employed various statistical methods including Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and Wald ratio analyses.
• Conducted sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the findings.

Main Results:

• Identified significant causal associations between NSW and 1,278 phenotypes related to frequency, 918 to intensity, and 199 to history.
• Observed reduced risks for conditions like hypertrophic skin disorders and endometriosis.
• Found increased risks for multiple sclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, and structural brain changes, among others.

Conclusions:

• Nighttime, siang, and evening (NSW) exposure has broad causal impacts on numerous health outcomes, including neuroimaging phenotypes.
• Findings underscore the necessity for public health interventions and further research into the mechanisms underlying these associations.
• Highlights the need for targeted interventions to mitigate adverse health effects of NSW exposure.