Associations between circadian preference, social jetlag, and diabetes mellitus risk in nurses working shifts

Abstract

Aims: This study uncovered the links between circadian preferences, social jet lag, and diabetes mellitus (DM) risk screening results of nurses working shifts. Methods: In this cross-sectional study design, sociodemographic data, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes Risk Test, Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale Improved (MESSi), sleep awake and bedtimes, and shift count were collected via survey. Participants were split into DM risk-positive and negative groups to compare them for MESSi scores, circadian preference and social jetlag. Results: Short sleep keepers were 61.8% of all 212 nurses aged 32.25±6.99 years. Abnormal social jetlag was detected in 18.9% of the study population. The group that experienced abnormal social jetlag exhibited a significantly lower morning affect and a higher eveningness (EV) compared with the normal jetlag group (p=0.003 and p=0.004, respectively). DM risk was present in 6.6% of all. A higher risk of DM was observed in individuals with older age, longer job experience, higher body mass index (BMI), male gender, and lower EV score (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.006 and p=0.042, respectively). Distinctness scores were positively correlated with DM risk scores (r=0.168; p=0.014), whereas they inversely correlated with night shift count (r=-0.149; p=0.022). Higher values of BMI (odds ratio=1.255; 95% confidence interval=1.036-1.520; p=0.020) and male sex (odds ratio=7.350; 95% confidence interval=1.265-42,161; p=0.026) were associated with increased risk for DM. Conclusions: This study reports that circadian preference, but not social jetlag time, may be related to DM risk among nurses working shifts.