The Relationship Between Shift Work and Men’s Health

More than 21 million Americans and nearly 20% of the U.S. workforce are shift workers. Non-standard shift work, defined as work that falls outside of 6 am–6 pm, can lead to poor diet, exercise, and sleep habits that lead to decreased productivity, increased workplace accidents, and a variety of negative health outcomes. To investigate the associations between shift work exposure and chronic medical conditions such as metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disturbances, and depression as well as urologic complications including hypogonadism, male infertility, lower urinary tract symptoms, and prostate cancer with a focus on the effects of shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) on the severity of these negative health outcomes. We reviewed the literature examining effects of shift work and SWSD on general and urologic health. We produced a summary of effects of shift work on health with focus on the increased risk of negative health outcomes in non-standard shift workers, particularly those with SWSD, when compared to daytime workers or workers without SWSD. Studies have associated non-standard shift work schedules and poor health outcomes, including increased risks of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, heart disease, peptic ulcer disease, and depression, in shift workers. However, few studies have focused on the role that shift work plays in men’s urologic health. Current evidence supports associations between non-standard shift work and increased hypogonadal symptoms, poor semen parameters, decreased fertility, lower urinary tract symptoms, and prostate cancer. These associations are strengthened by the presence of SWSD, which affects up to 20% of shift workers. Unfortunately, interventions, such as planned naps, timed light exposure, melatonin, and sedative hypnotics, aimed at alleviating excessive nighttime sleepiness and daytime insomnia in non-standard shift workers experiencing SWSD, are limited and lack strong evidence to support their efficacy. Non-standard shift work has been associated with a variety of negative health outcomes and urologic complications, especially with concurrent SWSD. Recognition of these increased risks among shift workers can potentially aid in more effective screening of chronic health and urologic conditions. Non-pharmacologic treatment of SWSD focuses on behavioral therapy and sleep hygiene while melatonin, hypnotics, and stimulants are used to alleviate insomnia and excessive sleepiness of SWSD. Further research into both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies for SWSD is needed to establish more definitive guidelines in the treatment of SWSD in order to increase productivity, minimize workplace accidents, and improve quality of life for shift workers. Deng N, Kohn TP, Lipshultz LI, et al. The Relationship Between Shift Work and Men’s Health. Sex Med Rev 2018;6:446–456.