Association Between Rotating Night Shift Work and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Women

Importance Prospective studies linking shift work to coronary heart disease (CHD) have been inconsistent and limited by short follow-up. Objective To determine whether rotating night shift work is associated with CHD risk. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective cohort study of 189 158 initially healthy women followed up over 24 years in the Nurses’ Health Studies (NHS [1988-2012]: N = 73 623 and NHS2 [1989-2013]: N = 115 535). Exposures Lifetime history of rotating night shift work (≥3 night shifts per month in addition to day and evening shifts) at baseline (updated every 2 to 4 years in the NHS2). Main Outcomes and Measures Incident CHD; ie, nonfatal myocardial infarction, CHD death,…