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The association between working hours and working type with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: results from the NHANES 1999-2014

Wang, Ruli ; Wu, Ningxi ; Qu, Huan ; Zheng, Xiaowei ; Zhang, Haoyang LU orcid ; Zhu, Lihong ; Wang, Xiaolei ; Yao, Xiaodie and Zhang, Le (2025) In Frontiers in Endocrinology 15.
Abstract
Background: Previous research has indicated that long working hours are connected to a variety of health conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, this association which has been observed in more population is limited. Our research is designed to evaluate the association between working hours, working type, and NAFLD.
Methods: The study comprised adults with complete details on working hours, working type, and NAFLD from the NHANES 1999-2014. We employed the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) to evaluate NAFLD and examined the relationship between working hours or working type and hepatic steatosis using weighted multiple-variable regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. In addition,... (More)
Background: Previous research has indicated that long working hours are connected to a variety of health conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, this association which has been observed in more population is limited. Our research is designed to evaluate the association between working hours, working type, and NAFLD.
Methods: The study comprised adults with complete details on working hours, working type, and NAFLD from the NHANES 1999-2014. We employed the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) to evaluate NAFLD and examined the relationship between working hours or working type and hepatic steatosis using weighted multiple-variable regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. In addition, further subgroup analysis was performed based on sex, age, ratio of family income to poverty (PIR), education, and diabetes.
Results: Long working hours were significantly linked to an elevated risk of NAFLD (OR: 1.57, 95%CI: 1.21-2.05), even after controlling for confounding factors. RCS analysis suggested that there was no nonlinear relationship between them. When weekly working hours > 50, the likelihood of NAFLD among the population heightened to 57% and this risk increased to 99% in the female population. As for working type, increasing physical intensity of work was associated with higher NAFLD risk, but only heavy manual labor continued to show significance after adjustment (OR:1.39, 95%CI: 1.06-1.81). We observed that the relationship between heavy manual labor and NAFLD was more significant in the older and male populations.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that long working hours and engaging in heavy physical labor are independent risk factors for NAFLD. As working hours increase and individuals engage in heavy physical labor for extended periods, the risk of developing NAFLD significantly rises. (Less)
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author
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Frontiers in Endocrinology
volume
15
article number
1499735
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85216493793
  • pmid:39877846
ISSN
1664-2392
DOI
10.3389/fendo.2024.1499735
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a2948f75-0457-48ed-adc2-03ae45940830
date added to LUP
2025-01-17 16:26:22
date last changed
2025-04-19 03:00:05
@article{a2948f75-0457-48ed-adc2-03ae45940830,
  abstract     = {{Background: Previous research has indicated that long working hours are connected to a variety of health conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, this association which has been observed in more population is limited. Our research is designed to evaluate the association between working hours, working type, and NAFLD.<br/>Methods: The study comprised adults with complete details on working hours, working type, and NAFLD from the NHANES 1999-2014. We employed the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) to evaluate NAFLD and examined the relationship between working hours or working type and hepatic steatosis using weighted multiple-variable regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. In addition, further subgroup analysis was performed based on sex, age, ratio of family income to poverty (PIR), education, and diabetes.<br/>Results: Long working hours were significantly linked to an elevated risk of NAFLD (OR: 1.57, 95%CI: 1.21-2.05), even after controlling for confounding factors. RCS analysis suggested that there was no nonlinear relationship between them. When weekly working hours &gt; 50, the likelihood of NAFLD among the population heightened to 57% and this risk increased to 99% in the female population. As for working type, increasing physical intensity of work was associated with higher NAFLD risk, but only heavy manual labor continued to show significance after adjustment (OR:1.39, 95%CI: 1.06-1.81). We observed that the relationship between heavy manual labor and NAFLD was more significant in the older and male populations.<br/>Conclusion: Our results indicate that long working hours and engaging in heavy physical labor are independent risk factors for NAFLD. As working hours increase and individuals engage in heavy physical labor for extended periods, the risk of developing NAFLD significantly rises.}},
  author       = {{Wang, Ruli and Wu, Ningxi and Qu, Huan and Zheng, Xiaowei and Zhang, Haoyang and Zhu, Lihong and Wang, Xiaolei and Yao, Xiaodie and Zhang, Le}},
  issn         = {{1664-2392}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Endocrinology}},
  title        = {{The association between working hours and working type with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: results from the NHANES 1999-2014}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1499735}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fendo.2024.1499735}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}