Relationship Between Shift Work, Cortisol Dysregulation, and Metabolic Syndrome Among Police Officers in Ondo State, South West Nigeria

Background: Police officers engage in demanding, irregular work schedules that disrupt circadian physiology and may dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Chronic cortisol dysregulation is a recognised mediator of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Nigerian police officers represent a vulnerable occupational group whose physiological health has been insufficiently studied. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate diurnal cortisol patterns, fasting glucose, waist circumference, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein levels as components of metabolic syndrome among shift-working police officers in Ondo State. Methods: Sixty officers working rotating shifts and thirty officers on fixed day shifts will be recruited. Salivary cortisol will be collected at waking, noon, and bedtime on three consecutive days. Fasting blood samples will be drawn for lipid and glucose analysis. Waist circumference and blood pressure will be measured. Metabolic syndrome will be classified using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Expected Outcomes: Rotating-shift officers are hypothesised to exhibit flatter diurnal cortisol slopes and higher metabolic syndrome prevalence compared to fixed-day counterparts. Conclusion: Findings will advocate for occupational health policies addressing shift work physiology among Nigerian law enforcement personnel. Keywords: shift work, cortisol, metabolic syndrome, police officers, Ondo State.