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Blood Pressure, Sleep Quality and Fatigue in Shift Working Police Officers: Effects of a Twelve Hour Roster System on Cardiovascular and Sleep Health

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  • Jaymen L. Elliott

    (Neuroscience Research Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia)

  • Sara Lal

    (Neuroscience Research Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia)

Abstract

Background: Police officers have been reported to exhibit a high incidence of pathologies, which present prematurely in an otherwise healthy population. Shift work has also been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and sleep disorders, attributable to its propensity for circadian rhythm dysfunction. However, contention exists as to whether shift work has a direct effect upon blood pressure (BP) regulation. Methods: This cross-sectional study sought to determine changes in BP and associations with the overall sleep quality and fatigue in 206 general duties police officers ( n = 140 males) of the New South Wales Police Force in Australia. The subjects’ BP was assessed before and after their twelve hour shift, during which time they also completed the Lifestyle Appraisal Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Results: Poor sleep quality (PSQI) and fatigue severity (FSS) were found to predominate in the sample (69% and 51% respectively). Although there was no change in BP for male participants, female officers’ systolic blood pressure (SBP) was found to increase significantly across the shift ( p < 0.001), but with no change found in females’ diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Finally, higher pre and post-shift SBP ( r = −0.26, p = 0.001; r = −0.25, p = 0.001, respectively) and DBP ( r = −0.26, p = 0.001; r = −0.26, p = 0.001, respectively) were significantly correlated with lower FSS scores after accounting for age, waist-hip ratio and lifestyle risk factors. Conclusions: Based on these preliminary findings, there was a significant increase in SBP of female police officers after shift work, while BP and fatigue levels in all police officers were strongly related. Moreover, the predominating poor sleep quality and impact of fatigue in this sample remain a concern. Further research is required to ensure the physiological welfare of police officers, while strategies must be implemented to manage the detrimental effects shift work may be having upon their cardiovascular and sleep health.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaymen L. Elliott & Sara Lal, 2016. "Blood Pressure, Sleep Quality and Fatigue in Shift Working Police Officers: Effects of a Twelve Hour Roster System on Cardiovascular and Sleep Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-8, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:2:p:172-:d:63134
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yanjun Guo & Yuewei Liu & Xiji Huang & Yi Rong & Meian He & Youjie Wang & Jing Yuan & Tangchun Wu & Weihong Chen, 2013. "The Effects of Shift Work on Sleeping Quality, Hypertension and Diabetes in Retired Workers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(8), pages 1-6, August.
    2. Carla Sfreddo & Sandra Costa Fuchs & Álvaro Roberto Merlo & Flávio Danni Fuchs, 2010. "Shift Work Is Not Associated with High Blood Pressure or Prevalence of Hypertension," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(12), pages 1-5, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Charli Sargent & Paul Roberts & Drew Dawson & Sally Ferguson & Lynn Meuleners & Libby Brook & Gregory D. Roach, 2016. "The Relationships between Human Fatigue and Public Health: A Brief Commentary on Selected Papers from the 9th International Conference on Managing Fatigue in Transportation, Resources and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-3, August.
    2. Sergio Garbarino & Ottavia Guglielmi & Matteo Puntoni & Nicola Luigi Bragazzi & Nicola Magnavita, 2019. "Sleep Quality among Police Officers: Implications and Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Zypher Jude G. Regencia & Godofreda V. Dalmacion & Antonio D. Ligsay & Emmanuel S. Baja, 2021. "Short-Term Cumulative Exposure to Ambient Traffic-Related Black Carbon and Blood Pressure: MMDA Traffic Enforcers’ Health Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.

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