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Life sciences · Journal article
Journal of Education Health and Sport · September 24, 2026
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Background: Shift work, particularly night work, is associated with circadian misalignment, sleep disruption, and impaired physiological recovery. Previous studies have suggested links between shift work and key chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, mental health disturbances, and selected cancers. Aim:The aim of this review is to synthesize evidence from the reviewed literature on the effects of shift work on four health domains: cancers, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and mental health. Methods:A narrative review methodology was applied. A critical review of the literature was conducted using leading scholarly publications in the field. The review included meta-analyses, prospective cohort studies, narrative reviews, and mechanistic studies. Results:The strongest evidence concerned cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes. Shift work was associated with increased risks of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, coronary events, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, overweight, obesity, and cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Mental health studies indicated increased risks of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and poor mental health. Cancer-related findings were less consistent. Across all domains, proposed mechanisms included circadian disruption, sleep deprivation, hormonal imbalance, inflammatory activation, oxidative stress, and psychosocial strain. Conclusions:Shift work has meaningful adverse effects on selected aspects of health, particularly in occupational populations, with the strongest evidence observed for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Mental health consequences are also supported by the literature, whereas cancer associations remain biologically plausible but epidemiologically inconsistent. The reviewed evidence supports considering shift work as a chronic biological and behavioral stressor requiring preventive occupational-health strategies and more individualized exposure assessment.