Research questions: What are the effects of night shift work on immunity and metabolism, and what are the specific mechanisms? How do these three factors interact with each other, and how do they collectively influence cardiovascular diseases?
Objectives: This project aims to explore the potential relationships and interactions between long-term night shift work, immune system, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Based on analyzing genetic data, clinical data, and imaging data from the UK Biobank, we hope to shed light on this connection and its implications for public health.
Scientific rationale: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death and illness globally, leading to a decline in patient quality of life and an escalating economic burden on society. Previous studies have reported that night shift work significantly impacts the development of CVDs, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. Prolonged night shift work can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, resulting in poor sleep quality and weakened immune function, which increases susceptibility to immune-related diseases. Additionally, night shift work is closely associated with metabolic disturbances, such as insulin resistance, obesity, and an elevated risk of diabetes, further exacerbating the risk of CVDs. However, further investigation is needed to understand how night shift work simultaneously affects immunity and metabolism, as well as their combined roles in development of CVDs. Therefore, we aim to address this knowledge gap and provide better understandings of the impact of night shift work on immunity and metabolism and their roles in development of CVDs. Additionally, risk and prognostic models based on immune and metabolic factors, cardiovascular MRI, and genetic information will be constructed to enable early and precise identification of populations susceptible to CVDs due to night shift work, thereby improving long-term survival rates of patients.
