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Concentrations of cortisol, testosterone and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) among construction workers with 12-h workdays and extended workweeks

Garde, Anne Helene ; Faber, Anne ; Persson, Roger LU orcid ; Hansen, Ase Marie ; Hjortskov, Nis ; Ørbaek, Palle LU and Schibye, Bente (2007) In International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 80(5). p.11-404
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Working on large scale construction sites have been shown to have severe health consequences in terms of increased risk of hospitalization and disability retirement compared to construction work in general. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether large scale construction work involving 12-h workdays and extended workweeks leads to insufficient recovery measured as increased catabolic and decreased anabolic metabolism.

METHODS: The study group comprised 40 male construction workers of which 21 had 12-h workdays and extended workweeks (56 h/workweek). The comparison group consisted of 19 male construction workers, who worked regular hours (37 h/week, weekends off). Measurements of concentrations of... (More)

OBJECTIVES: Working on large scale construction sites have been shown to have severe health consequences in terms of increased risk of hospitalization and disability retirement compared to construction work in general. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether large scale construction work involving 12-h workdays and extended workweeks leads to insufficient recovery measured as increased catabolic and decreased anabolic metabolism.

METHODS: The study group comprised 40 male construction workers of which 21 had 12-h workdays and extended workweeks (56 h/workweek). The comparison group consisted of 19 male construction workers, who worked regular hours (37 h/week, weekends off). Measurements of concentrations of cortisol in saliva and free testosterone and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) in blood were made in a repeated measures design during 2 workweeks for both groups supplemented with 1 week off for construction workers with extended workweeks.

RESULTS: The diurnal profile of concentrations of salivary cortisol for construction workers with extended workweeks differed from the diurnal profile of salivary cortisol for those with regular work schedules (P < 0.001). The construction workers with extended workweeks tended to have 15% [95% CI -3%; 37%] higher concentrations of free testosterone in serum compared to construction workers with regular work schedules (P = 0.09). There were no differences between the two groups with respect to concentrations of HbA(1c). There was no increasing trend in concentrations of cortisol or decreasing trend in concentrations of testosterone during the extended workweek. The diurnal profile for concentrations of cortisol differed between workdays and days off for construction workers with extended workweeks (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we observed no indications of insufficient recovery in terms of increased catabolic or decreased anabolic metabolism in construction workers with 12-h workdays and extended workweeks compared to construction workers with regular work schedules.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Adult, Facility Design and Construction, Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Exposure, Testosterone
in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
volume
80
issue
5
pages
8 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:33847644679
  • pmid:17028889
ISSN
0340-0131
DOI
10.1007/s00420-006-0149-9
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
3d1c2b02-c144-4ca3-b79d-783f8144ef13
date added to LUP
2016-04-22 17:42:05
date last changed
2024-01-04 01:20:50
@article{3d1c2b02-c144-4ca3-b79d-783f8144ef13,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVES: Working on large scale construction sites have been shown to have severe health consequences in terms of increased risk of hospitalization and disability retirement compared to construction work in general. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether large scale construction work involving 12-h workdays and extended workweeks leads to insufficient recovery measured as increased catabolic and decreased anabolic metabolism.</p><p>METHODS: The study group comprised 40 male construction workers of which 21 had 12-h workdays and extended workweeks (56 h/workweek). The comparison group consisted of 19 male construction workers, who worked regular hours (37 h/week, weekends off). Measurements of concentrations of cortisol in saliva and free testosterone and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) in blood were made in a repeated measures design during 2 workweeks for both groups supplemented with 1 week off for construction workers with extended workweeks.</p><p>RESULTS: The diurnal profile of concentrations of salivary cortisol for construction workers with extended workweeks differed from the diurnal profile of salivary cortisol for those with regular work schedules (P &lt; 0.001). The construction workers with extended workweeks tended to have 15% [95% CI -3%; 37%] higher concentrations of free testosterone in serum compared to construction workers with regular work schedules (P = 0.09). There were no differences between the two groups with respect to concentrations of HbA(1c). There was no increasing trend in concentrations of cortisol or decreasing trend in concentrations of testosterone during the extended workweek. The diurnal profile for concentrations of cortisol differed between workdays and days off for construction workers with extended workweeks (P = 0.003).</p><p>CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we observed no indications of insufficient recovery in terms of increased catabolic or decreased anabolic metabolism in construction workers with 12-h workdays and extended workweeks compared to construction workers with regular work schedules.</p>}},
  author       = {{Garde, Anne Helene and Faber, Anne and Persson, Roger and Hansen, Ase Marie and Hjortskov, Nis and Ørbaek, Palle and Schibye, Bente}},
  issn         = {{0340-0131}},
  keywords     = {{Adult; Facility Design and Construction; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Testosterone}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{11--404}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health}},
  title        = {{Concentrations of cortisol, testosterone and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) among construction workers with 12-h workdays and extended workweeks}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0149-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00420-006-0149-9}},
  volume       = {{80}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}