Summary
The dependence of blood pressure upon internal rhythms and the short-term effects of shift rota on the blood pressure were investigated in shift workers. Blood pressure was measured every 30 min using automatic recorders for 24 h in 17 physically working men in a chemical factory during their morning and night shifts. Mean 24-h blood pressures were identical in the morning and night shifts. There were no differences of the mean blood pressure between the respective sleeping phases or between the working periods. The amplitudes of circadian blood pressure variations were equal. There was a phase difference of 8 h corresponding to the lag between the working periods. At this 8-h lag the hourly means of the 24-h blood pressure were closely correlated (r = 0.69). Comparisons of 24-h blood pressure profiles during the first and last days of a night shift week showed that the effects of night work on the blood pressure were already fully developed within the first 24h (r = 0.86). Thus the diurnal variations of the blood pressure are determined by the working and sleeping periods and largely independent of endogenous rhythm. There is no short-term alteration of the mean 24-h blood pressure after shift rota.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bevan AT, Honour AJ, Stott FH (1969) Direct arterial pressure recording in unrestricted man. Clin Sci 36:329–344
Bolm-Audorff U, Schreml N, Ehlenz K, Knecht U, Hahne H, Woitowitz HJ (1985) Belastung und Beanspruchung von Rettungssanitätern. Verb Dt Ges Arb Med 25:395–400
Bicakova-Rocher A, Gorceix A, Reinberg A (1981) Possible circadian rhythm alterations in certain healthy human adults (effects of placebo). In: Reinberg A, Vieux N, Andlauer P (eds) Night and shift work — biological and social aspects. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 297–310
Carandente F, Ahlgren A, Halberg F (1984) Mesor-hypertension: hints by chronobiologists. Chronobiologia 11:189–203
Clark LA, Denby L, Pregibon D, Harshfield GA, Pickering TG, Blanks S, Laragh JH (1987) A quantitative analysis of the effects of activity and time of day on the diurnal variations of blood pressure. J Chronic Dis 40:671–681
Costa G, Gaffuri E, Perfranceschi G, Tansella M (1979) Reentrainment of diurnal variation and psychological and physiological performance at the end of a slowly rotated shift system in hospital workers. Int Arch Occup Health 44:165–175
Desir D, Van Canter E, Golstein J, Fevre M, Jadot C, Refetoff S, Copinschi G (1981) Adaption of the nycthemeral variations of pituitary and related hormones after transmeridian transportation in normal man. In: Reinberg A, Vieux N, Andlauer P (eds) Night and shift work — biological and social aspects. Pergamon Press, Oxford, p 365
Fouriaud C, Jaquinet-Salord MC, Degoulet P, Aime F, Lang T, Laprugne J, Main J, Oeconomos J, Phalente J, Prades A (1984) Influence of socioprofessional conditions on blood pressure levels and hypertension control. Am J Epidemiol 120:72–86
Halberg F, Drayer JIM, Cornelissen, Weber MA (1984) Cardiovascular reference data base for recognizing circadian mesor- and amplitude-hypertension in apparently healthy men. Chronobiologia 11:275–298
Harrington JM (1978) Shift work and health. A critical review of the literature. Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London
Helmert U, Groetschel R, Herman B, Klesse R, Greiser E (1986) Risikofaktoren für koronare Herzkrankheiten bei männlichen Betriebsangehörigen — Ergebnisse von Screening-Untersuchungen in zwei norddeutschen Großbet-rieben. Öff Gesundh-Wes 48:249–254
Ilmarinen J, Ilmarinen R, Korhonen O, Nurminen M (1890) Circadian variation of physiological functions related to physical work capacity. Scand J Work Environ Health 6:112–122
Knauth P, Emde E, Ruthenfranz J, Kiesswetter E, Smith P (1981) Re-entrainment of body temperature in field studies of shiftwork. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 49:137–149
Kornhuber HH, Lisson G (1981) Bluthochdruck — sind Industrie-Stressoren, Lärm oder Akkordarbeit wichtige Ursachen? Dtsch Med Wochenschr 106:1733–1736
Mancia G, Ferrari A, Gregorini L, Parati G, Pomidossi G, Bertinieri G, Grassi G, Di Rienzo M, Pedotti A, Zanchetti A (1983) Blood pressure and heart rate variabilities in normotensive and hypertensive human beings. Circ Res 53:96–104
Michel-Briand C, Chopard JL, Guiot A, Paulmier M, Studer G (1981) The pathological consequences of shift work in retired workers. In: Reinberg A, Vieux N, Andlauer P (eds) Night and shift work — biological and social aspects. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 399–407
Millar-Craig MW, Bishop CN, Raftery EB (1978) Circadian variations in blood pressure. Lancet I:795–797
Minors DS, Waterhouse JM (1981) Endogenous rhythms during anchor sleep experiments. In: Reinberg A, Vieux N, Andlauer P (eds) Night and shift work — biological and social aspects. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 169–170
Piorkowski P, Günther KH, Harig H, Wandreg W, Braun H (1982) Risikofaktoren des Herzinfarktes und soziale Parameter — Studie Cottbus. Dtsch Gesundh-Wes 37:1680–1682
Rutenfranz J (1982) Occupational health measures for night- and shiftworkers. J Hum Ergol 11:S67-S86
Ruthenfranz J, Hellbrügge T, Stehr K, Oberhoff P (1964) Über das Verhalten des Blutdrucks von Kindern und Jugendlichen bei körperlicher Aktivität und in Ruhe. Z Kinderheilkd 89:227–244
Vokac Z, Gundersen N, Magnus P, Jebens E, Bakka T (1981) Circadian rhythm of urinary excretion of mercury. In: Reinberg A, Vieux N, Andlauer P (eds) Night and shift work — biological and social aspects. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 109–115
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baumgart, P., Walger, P., Fuchs, G. et al. Diurnal variations of blood pressure in shift workers during day and night shifts. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 61, 463–466 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386480
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386480