Osteoporosis is an important public health problem worldwide. Although a number of factors that affect bone structure have been described; thus far, the current knowledge of occupational factors that may have an influence on bone tissue metabolism is strongly limited. Published studies indicate night shift work and the related circadian rhythm disruption may be considered as plausible underlying factors. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential association between night shift work and bone mineral density (BMD) among female blue-collar workers in Poland. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 194 female blue-collar workers >40 years of age employed in industrial plants. The operating system of work consisted of three work shifts clockwise rotation: morning (06:00–14:00 h), afternoon (14:00–22:00 h), and night (22:00–06:00 h), with five consecutive shifts per week followed by a free weekend. A questionnaire survey, based on a Polish version of The European vertebral osteoporosis study (EVOS) questionnaire, a validated instrument, was administered. Data on current job characteristics, job seniority, and lifetime duration of night shift work were also collected. BMD of the lumbar spine and hip (both total femur and femoral neck) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multivariate linear regression models were run, with bone mineralization parameters as dependent variables, as well as night work characteristics and important confounders. Statistical analysis was performed separately for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The analyses adjusted for confounders did not reveal any significant differences between current or lifetime experience of night shift work and BMD among both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. However, the outcomes supported the well-established correlation with factors, such as age, BMI, and menopausal status. BMD at the three sites measured was significantly associated with BMI (p < .001) and inversely associated with age (p < .001) in the total study population. Postmenopausal women had significantly lower BMD than did premenopausal women (p < .001). The study findings indicate that in the population of Polish female blue-collar workers, the system of work does not seem to be associated with the development of osteoporosis.

骨质疏松症是全世界重要的公共卫生问题。尽管已经描述了许多影响骨骼结构的因素；但是，迄今为止，对可能影响骨骼组织代谢的职业因素的当前知识是非常有限的。已发表的研究表明夜班工作和相关的昼夜节律紊乱可能被认为是合理的潜在因素。本研究的目的是评估波兰女性蓝领工人夜班工作与骨矿物质密度（BMD）之间的潜在关联。在194名年龄在40岁以上的工业工厂中的蓝领女性工人中进行了横断面研究。工作操作系统包括三个顺时针旋转的工作班次：上午（06：00–14：00 h），下午（14：00–22：00 h）和晚上（22：00–06：00小时），每周进行五次连续轮班，随后是免费周末。根据波兰版的《欧洲脊椎骨质疏松研究》（EVOS）调查表（一种经过验证的工具）进行了调查表调查。还收集了有关当前工作特征，工作资历和夜班工作寿命的数据。使用双能X射线吸收法测量腰椎和髋部（股骨和股骨颈）的BMD。运行多元线性回归模型，以骨矿化参数为因变量，以及夜间工作特征和重要混杂因素。绝经前和绝经后妇女分别进行统计分析。校正混杂因素后的分析并未显示绝经前和绝经后妇女目前或终生夜班工作与BMD之间的显着差异。但是，结果支持与年龄，BMI和更年期状况等因素的公认关系。测量的三个部位的BMD与BMI显着相关（p <.001），与总研究人群的年龄成反比（p <.001）。绝经后妇女的骨密度明显低于绝经前妇女（p <.001）。研究结果表明，在波兰女性蓝领女性人群中，工作制度似乎与骨质疏松症的发展无关。