Shiftwork and Biomarkers of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease: The BCOPS Study.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the association of shiftwork with biomarkers of subclinical cardiovascular disease and examine the moderating role of body mass index (BMI) in a police cohort. METHODS:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among officers who were categorized as working the day, evening, or night shift. Comparisons with inflammatory biomarkers were performed among shifts using analysis of variance/covariance and further stratified by BMI to assess potential effect modification. RESULTS:Associations were observed between day and night shiftworkers for leukocytes, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and homocysteine. After BMI stratification, higher c-reactive protein (CRP) levels were observed among evening shiftworkers with a BMI more than or equal to 30 kg/m versus the day shift. CONCLUSIONS:Future studies examining prospective changes in these markers will allow for more comprehensive evaluation of their association with shiftwork.