New Delhi, Oct 1 (IANS) – Young adults working night shifts are more likely to develop kidney stones, a new study suggests.
Published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the research found that shift workers face a 15 per cent higher risk of kidney stone formation, particularly younger employees and those engaged in low levels of manual labour. Lifestyle factors such as body mass index (BMI), fluid intake, smoking, and sleep patterns also play a significant role in the condition.
“Shift work is associated with a higher risk of kidney stone events, partly mediated by lifestyle factors including smoking, sleep, fluid intake, and BMI,” said lead investigator Yin Yang from the Department of Epidemiology, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
The study analysed data from over 220,000 participants, tracking shift work type, frequency, and duration over a median follow-up of 13.7 years. Long-term shift work, especially night shifts, can disrupt circadian rhythms, alter metabolism and hormone secretion, and affect overall lifestyle, increasing susceptibility to various health issues.
Kidney stone disease is a common and largely preventable urological condition, with global prevalence ranging from 1 to 13 per cent. It is linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and renal failure, creating a substantial long-term health burden.
Felix Knauf of the Mayo Clinic, in an accompanying editorial, emphasized that night shift work poses the highest risk, noting that disruption of circadian rhythms affects nearly all physiological systems and overall homeostasis.
