In a new study, researchers found that disruption to organ rhythms caused by shift work is a key factor in injury-induced disease development.
They found a shift work schedule not only led to a slowdown in the rhythmic flow of the renal system but also contributed to increased kidney injury.
This result indicates a possible link between rhythmic kidney function and renal damage.
The research was conducted by a team at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Non-traditional shift work schedules—hours outside the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday—have long been associated with multiple health disorders.
More than 15 million Americans work a shift work schedule, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, there has been no specific link identified between shift work and diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.
The team says that there are many factors that contribute to the increased health risks associated with shift work.
This study demonstrates the relationship between organ rhythms and injury, revealing an organ-specific effect associated with long-term disruption of organ processes and a potential underlying cause for diseases common amongst shift workers.
These findings will lead to targeted treatments and policies to prevent diseases prevalent in people who are employed on a shift work schedule.
One author of the study is Atlantis Hill, Ph.D.
The study is published in the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.
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