Hypothesis / aims of study
Recent studies suggest that night shift jobs may have adverse health effects on several anatomical systems through the developing of sleep disorders. Up to now, little is known about the impact of night work on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
The present study was aimed to evaluate the impact of night shift work on patients’ urinary symptoms.
Study design, materials and methods
Between March 2018 to October 2018, an internal survey was carried out by enrolling subjects working in national healthcare system and performing night shifts or traditional work hours (from 6am to 2pm).
All the subjects were asked to compile namelessly the following international validated questionnaires: Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OABq), and European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Furthermore, clinical variables were collected too (i.e. age and medical history). Then, collected data were analyzed in according to being night shift worker (NSWs) or traditional workers (TWs) through descriptive methods. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed
Interpretation of results
On OABq, total score, symptoms bother and QoL domains were significantly (p<0.05) higher in NSWs group, respectively: 31 IQR 26-35 Vs 19 IQR 19-20; 11 IQR 10-13 Vs 6 IQR 6-7; 19 IQR 16-22 Vs 13 13-14. Likewise, individuals performing night shifts reported significative higher median score than TWs and EORTC QLQ-C30 (41; IQR 34-46 Vs 31; IQR 27-35). Finally, seven NSWs (10.6%) referred nocturia respect to only one (1%) TWs, (p=0.02). On multivariate analysis NSWs was an independent predictors of OABq> 30 units (OR:30; CI: 9-111, p=0.001).