PER1 polymorphism associated with shift work disorder

Workers with shift work schedules often experience shift work disorder (SWD). However, all shift workers do not necessarily develop SWD. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between susceptibility to SWD and clock gene polymorphisms. A total of 257 male workers from a semiconductor factory were recruited in this study. Participants completed questions about age, body mass index (BMI), shift work history, lifestyle, living conditions, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and SWD, and were genotyped with regard to the five clock gene polymorphisms. Workers were divided into two groups, namely, shift workers with SWD (n = 172) and those without SWD (n = 85). ESS and PSQI scores were significantly different between the two groups. The result of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the PER1 G/G (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.08-0.97) and C/G (OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.19-0.96) genotype were associated with SWD. The present study findings suggest that there is an association between the PER1 polymorphism rs3027188 and susceptibility to SWD in Japanese shift workers.