The Moderating Effect of Shift Work on Lipid Pathway: An Application of Multi-Group Path Analysis Model

Background: Previous studies have reported conflicting results concerning the association between shift work and variables such as blood pressure and lipid profile. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of shift work on lipid profile and blood pressure. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on steelworkers who worked in Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Company (EMSC) in the year 2017. In this study, workers were selected using random cluster sampling to investigate the moderating effect of shift work on lipid profile using the path analysis model in AMOS software. Results: A total of 1549 workers (including 926 (60%) shift workers and 623 (40%) day workers) with a mean age of 24.17 ± 6.11 years participated in this study. The path analysis model showed a good fit index (RMSEA = 0.012, P = 0.010). The path analysis results revealed that shift work moderating effect caused a decrease in the relationship between Triglyceride (TG) and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and between TG and LDL but increased the relationship between TG and Diastolic Blood Pressure. Conclusions: Our findings showed a new evidence that shift work could have a moderating effect on blood pressure and lipid profile.