Association Between Shift Work and Metabolic Syndrome Among Healthcare Workers in Kano State University Hospital

Shift work is a well-established occupational risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS), an increasing non-communicable disease burden in Nigeria's healthcare workforce. This analytical cross-sectional study examined the association between shift work patterns and metabolic syndrome prevalence among healthcare workers at Kano State University Teaching Hospital, North West Nigeria. Four hundred healthcare workers (200 permanent shift workers and 200 day-only workers matched by age, sex, and professional cadre) participated. MetS was defined using the International Diabetes Federation 2009 harmonized criteria, and clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical assessments were conducted. MetS prevalence was 34.5 percent among shift workers compared to 18.5 percent among day workers (p less than 0.001). Abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL cholesterol were significantly more prevalent in shift workers. Logistic regression showed shift work duration above five years was the strongest predictor of MetS (OR: 3.89, 95% CI: 2.31-6.55), independent of age, BMI, and physical activity. Female nurses on permanent night rotation demonstrated the highest MetS component clustering. This study generates empirical evidence linking occupational shift exposure to metabolic risk in a Nigerian hospital setting and recommends evidence-based shift scheduling reforms, periodic cardiometabolic screening, dietary and exercise programs, and institutional policies for monitoring shift-related health outcomes in Kano State healthcare institutions. Keywords: shift work, metabolic syndrome, healthcare workers, circadian disruption, Kano State.