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Rachel V Thomas

Night Shift Workers May Face Nearly Double the Risk of Long COVID, Finds Study

People working night shifts were nearly twice as likely to develop <span>long COVID</span>, according to a new study.

Researchers at Spain’s ISGlobal said no previous study had examined whether disruption of the body’s biological clock could increase the risk of developing long <span>COVID</span>.

“Our findings suggest that circadian disruption plays a role in the transition from acute infection to persistent symptoms,” said Manolis Kogevinas, an ISGlobal researcher.

Published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, the study also found that chronic <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/insomnia">insomnia</a></span> further increased the risk, highlighting the potential importance of healthy sleep habits in preventing long COVID and other post-acute infectious syndromes.

<h2><span rel="noindex">Night Shift Raises Long COVID Risk</span></h2>

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/long-covid-patients-may-face-brain-fog-fatigue-due-to-reduction-in-dopamine-new-study-explains-article-155591381" data-type="tilCustomLink">Long COVID Patients May Face Brain Fog &amp; Fatigue Due To Reduction In Dopamine? New Study Explains</a>

The research team followed 2,941 adults in Catalonia between 2021 and 2023. Among the 1,899 participants who became infected with SARS-CoV-2, 284 developed long COVID during the two-year follow-up.

Long COVID was defined as persistent symptoms lasting more than three months after infection.

Compared with day workers, people who worked night shifts had an 88% higher risk of developing long COVID. This was after accounting for other factors, including vaccination history and chronic diseases.

The association was stronger among night workers with <span>obesity</span>. 

Importantly, the increased risk was seen in both current and former night workers, suggesting that it may reflect longer-term effects of circadian disruption rather than short-term changes.

However, night-shift work was not associated with a higher risk of infection. This suggests that disruption of the biological clock may influence how the body recovers from infection rather than the likelihood of catching the virus.

<h2>Chronic Insomnia Further Raises Risk</h2>

<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/amid-cyclospora-salmonella-outbreaks-us-fda-issues-guidance-on-ready-to-eat-produce-article-155596514" data-type="tilCustomLink">Amid Cyclospora, Salmonella Outbreaks, US FDA Issues Guidance on Ready-to-Eat Produce</a>

The researchers found that chronic insomnia independently increased the risk of long COVID by 42%, regardless of <span>night shift</span> work.

The two factors also appeared to have a synergistic effect. <span>Night shift workers</span> with chronic insomnia were 2.7 times more likely to develop long COVID than day workers without insomnia.

The biological mechanisms behind the association are not yet fully understood. Researchers noted that the time of day when the body encounters a pathogen may influence the immune response. Disruption of the biological clock may also impair the immune system’s ability to clear an infection.

<h2>Could Better Sleep Help Prevent Long COVID?</h2>

With insomnia becoming increasingly common, the researchers highlighted the need to better understand the short- and long-term effects of disturbed sleep on infection-related outcomes.

The findings suggest that sleep may be a potentially modifiable factor in reducing the risk of long COVID and other post-infectious conditions.

“Promoting healthy sleep habits and minimizing circadian disruption could represent simple, low-cost strategies to reduce the long-term consequences of viral infections, particularly among people who work night shifts,” Kogevinas said.

Long COVID is a debilitating condition that can persist for months or even years after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long COVID is an infection-associated chronic condition marked by fatigue, cognitive impairment, exercise intolerance, and multisystem dysfunction.

It has affected an estimated 400 million people worldwide and continues to have significant health, social, and economic consequences. Despite the ongoing risk, prevention strategies have received relatively little attention.

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People working night shifts were nearly twice as likely to develop long COVID, according to a new study.Researchers at Spain’s ISGlobal said no previous study had examined whether disruption of the body’s biological clock could increase the risk of developing long COVID.“Our findings suggest that circadian disruption plays a role in the transition from acute infection to persistent symptoms,” said Manolis Kogevinas, an ISGlobal researcher.Published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, the study also found that chronic insomnia further increased the risk, highlighting the potential importance of healthy sleep habits in preventing long COVID and other post-acute infectious syndromes.Night Shift Raises Long COVID RiskAlso read: Long COVID Patients May Face Brain Fog & Fatigue Due To Reduction In Dopamine? New Study ExplainsThe research team followed 2,941 adults in Catalonia between 2021 and 2023. Among the 1,899 participants who became infected with SARS-CoV-2, 284 developed long COVID during the two-year follow-up.Long COVID was defined as persistent symptoms lasting more than three months after infection.Compared with day workers, people who worked night shifts had an 88% higher risk of developing long COVID. This was after accounting for other factors, including vaccination history and chronic diseases.The association was stronger among night workers with obesity. Importantly, the increased risk was seen in both current and former night workers, suggesting that it may reflect longer-term effects of circadian disruption rather than short-term changes.However, night-shift work was not associated with a higher risk of infection. This suggests that disruption of the biological clock may influence how the body recovers from infection rather than the likelihood of catching the virus.Chronic Insomnia Further Raises RiskRead More: Amid Cyclospora, Salmonella Outbreaks, US FDA Issues Guidance on Ready-to-Eat ProduceThe researchers found that chronic insomnia independently increased the risk of long COVID by 42%, regardless of night shift work.The two factors also appeared to have a synergistic effect. Night shift workers with chronic insomnia were 2.7 times more likely to develop long COVID than day workers without insomnia.The biological mechanisms behind the association are not yet fully understood. Researchers noted that the time of day when the body encounters a pathogen may influence the immune response. Disruption of the biological clock may also impair the immune system’s ability to clear an infection.Could Better Sleep Help Prevent Long COVID?With insomnia becoming increasingly common, the researchers highlighted the need to better understand the short- and long-term effects of disturbed sleep on infection-related outcomes.The findings suggest that sleep may be a potentially modifiable factor in reducing the risk of long COVID and other post-infectious conditions.“Promoting healthy sleep habits and minimizing circadian disruption could represent simple, low-cost strategies to reduce the long-term consequences of viral infections, particularly among people who work night shifts,” Kogevinas said.What is Long COVID?Long COVID is a debilitating condition that can persist for months or even years after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long COVID is an infection-associated chronic condition marked by fatigue, cognitive impairment, exercise intolerance, and multisystem dysfunction.It has affected an estimated 400 million people worldwide and continues to have significant health, social, and economic consequences. Despite the ongoing risk, prevention strategies have received relatively little attention.

night shift workers may face nearly double the risk of long covid, finds study

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