The Effects of Shift Work on Metabolic Syndrome in Electronic Material Manufacturing Industry

Purpose : This study aimed to examine the association between shift work and metabolic syndrome and to assess the effects of shift work on the individual components of metabolic syndrome among workers in the electronic materials manufacturing industry. Methods : A total of 650 workers were classified into shift and non-shift (daytime) groups based on their 2023 health examination data. And a cross-sectional analysis was conducted. The differences in metabolic syndrome components such as waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol, were analyzed using independent t-tests. The influence of shift work on each component was examined through logistic regression, and the association between shift work and metabolic syndrome prevalence was assessed using the chi-square test. Results : Shift workers had significantly higher systolic & diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels (p < 0.01), and significantly lower HDL cholesterol levels (p = 0.009) compared to non-shift workers. No significant differences were observed in waist circumference or fasting glucose. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in the overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome between the two groups (p = 0.147). Conclusion : Although shift work did not significantly affect the overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome, it was found to negatively influence specific metabolic risk factors. These results suggest the need for workplace-level interventions, including regular health checkups and tailored health management programs. Furthermore, longitudinal studies are needed to establish evidence- based occupational health policies for workers exposed to long-term shift work.