Effects of Occupational Stress and Circadian CLOCK Gene Polymorphism on Sleep Quality of Oil Workers in Xinjiang, China

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effect of occupational stress and circadian clock gene polymorphism on sleep disorder of oil workers in Xinjiang, China. MATERIAL/METHODS: We enrolled 2300 Xinjiang oil workers who had been working for at least 1 year. The Chinese revised version of the Occupational Stress Questionnaire (OSI-R), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and General Survey Questionnaire were used. A total of 308 subjects were selected for stress hormone measurements and gene polymorphism analysis of the circadian clock genes CLOCK, PER2, and PER3. RESULTS: The occupational stress scores were influenced by sex, smoking, marital status, age, and work type. Different work shift groups and different professional title groups had statistically significant sleep disorder incidences (P<0.05). The middle and high occupational stress groups had significantly higher subjective sleep quality, total PSQI scores, daytime dysfunction factor scores, and sleep disorder than in the low occupational stress group (P<0.05). CLOCK gene rs1801260 locus carrying TC genotype (OR=0.412, 95% CI=0.245–0.695), and CLOCK gene rs6850524 locus carrying GC and CC genotypes decreased sleep disorder risk (OR(1)=0.357, 95% CI(1)=0.245–0.695; OR(2)=0.317, 95% CI(2)=0.128–0.785). The main factors affecting the sleep quality of oil workers were length of service, individual strain capacity, glucocorticoid levels, Per3 gene, and the rs6850524 loci of CLOCK gene. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational stress has an adverse effect on the sleep quality of workers. CLOCK gene and Per3 gene may increase risk of sleep disorders.