Sleep, Shift Work and Health: Global Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep is a risk factor for cognitive and mood disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndromes, mortality and reduced life expectancy. Undiagnosed sleep disturbances in workers can lead also to significant impairments in health and safety risks. Obstructive sleep apnea, sleep deficit, insomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness are independently associated with road accidents and near-miss work accidents, as well as with absenteeism and decreases in productivity. Shift work schedules and irregular working times, which are both characteristics of our 24-hour society, mean there is an increased number of people experiencing poor sleep quality and sleep disorders.

The use of benzodiazepine in workers experiencing poor quality of sleep is an increasing phenomenon, thus creating additional safety risks. Finally, there is increasing interest in the role of sex and gender in sleep disturbances and the associated health consequences, particularly in working-age individuals. Indeed, females in the fertile period experiencing sleep disturbances tend to more frequently develop mood disturbances including chronic depression.

Sleep deprivation and low quality of sleep seem to produce a hyperadrenergic state, associated with systemic inflammation potentially involved in the physiopathology of most of the diseases observed among poor sleepers. Little is known about the role of autonomic modulation (i.e., the cardio sympatho-vagal balance) in affecting sleep quality and duration.

The present Special Issue will address the issue with emphasis on the role of occupational environments. Original observational studies, randomized controlled trials and protocols, and systematic reviews and case reports are welcome. Other manuscript types may include methodological papers, position papers, brief reports, and commentaries. Basic, clinical, and population studies from different disciplines including work physiology and occupational health are accepted. We will strive to provide a global perspective by encouraging submissions from both high-income countries and low-resource settings.

Dr. Franca Barbic
Prof. Dr. Saverio Stranges
Dr. Nicola Magnavita
Guest Editors

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