Salivary cortisol analysis in shift workers

Abstract

Night work is responsible not only for changes in sleep, but major changes in the production of cortisol. The shiftwork has become shared these days; however, this practice affects the health of workers. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of shift work in the prevalence of morbidity in vigilant workers. The sample consisted of 21 guards of a company’s electricity branch in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil. After signing the informed consent form, the questionnaire research of stress symptoms for adults was applied. The collection of the hormone cortisol has been through a salive up early in the 1st round (6:30-7:05) and at the end of the morning shift (5:30–6:05). Analyses of the hormone cortisol was in the laboratory, through the electrochemiluminescence method. The data showed 66.8% with bad and very bad sleep in the morning shift, 72% said fatigue and insomnia, irritability 81 and 91% drowsiness. The damage to family, health and social showed 90.6, 71.5 and 85.8% respectively. It was observed that in the group for 71% in stress resistance phase. The values of salivary cortisol hormone achieved total range of 0.06-0.73 mg/dL, indicating low values for the vigil. In conclusion, the shift work contributes to the emergence of stress, depression, affecting the health and quality of life of vigilant and provides a change in the secretion of the cortisol hormone.