Effect of forward rapidly rotating shift work on circadian rhythms of arterial pressure, heart rate and oral temperature in air traffic controllers

Twenty-four-hour records of arterial pressure (AP), heart rate(HR), oral temperature (OT) and physical and mental performancewere obtained in air traffic controllers during morning (n=16),afternoon (n=17) and night (n=19) shifts. Data were analyzedby the cosinor method. The results obtained during the morningshift were as follows (mesor/amplitude/;acrophase): systolicAP (mm Hg)—113.6/10.0/16:03 h; diastolic AP—71.1/8.2—15:19h; mean AP—85.6/8.8/15:41 h; HR (beats/min)—77.5/8.9/16:00h; OT (dg C)—36.71/0.21/15:49 h; right-hand grip strength(kg)—49.8/2.0/17:43 h; left-hand grip strength—46.1/2.0/16.08h; mental performance (calculations/min)—14.9/1.1/16:39h. During the night shift either no change of the circadianacrophases (HR, right-hand grip strength) or acrophase delaysranging from about 2 h (systolic AP, OT, mental performance)up to 3 h (diastolic and mean AP, left-hand grip strength) wereobserved. Our data suggest that the shift system studied doesnot significantly alter the circadian rhythms, and does notinduce a desynchronization, particularly as concerns arterialpressure and oral temperature.