The role of shift work and psychosocial stress in development of hemostasis disorders in employees of EMERCOM of Russia

Relevance . Shift work was found to induce pathological processes due to desynchronization of human circadian biorhythms. Intention . To determine incidence of hemostasis disorders and their relation to labour nature in employees of EMERCOM of Russia. Methodology .There were examined 37 employees of EMERCOM of Russia aged 32–58 (42.0 ± 6.8) with work experience (12.0 ± 6.9) years, high level of psychosocial stress and different work schedules: day (n = 11), shift (n = 14), irregular working hours (n = 12). The level of professional stress was studied using a specially developed questionnaire and the night sleep – using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Сortisol circadian dynamics was evaluated, hemostasis state was fully assessed. Results and Discussion .The questionnaire showed irregularity of work schedule, additional working hours, decreased leisure time and high intensity of work in all study groups. High incidence of arterial hypertension (44 %) was registered without constant antihypertensive therapy. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) indicated sleep disorders among 24 (65 %) EMERCOM employees. Сortisol circadian dynamics test demonstrated increased level of the evening cortisol in 40 % of EMERCOM employees indicating widespread desynchronosis signs in the study group. Hemostatic system comprehensive assessment showed absence of considerable changes in thrombocytic component and a significant activation of plasma hemostasis according to the thrombodynamics assay. Hemostasis disorders were most expressed in the group with shift work and high psychosocial stress; they manifested in increased clots formation, spontaneous clots formation and increased VIII coagulation factor activity. Conclusion . The study confirmed the existing vision that chronic stress and desynchronosis change the hemostatic balance into chronic hypercoagulation state.