ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE IN THE EARLY AND NIGHT SHIFTS IN WORKERS EMPLOYED IN A ROTATING SHIFT SYSTEM

Ambulatory, long-term blood pressure measurements were carried out in 17 workers employed in a three-shift rotating system at a metall proce ssing business. The measurements were carried out over 24 hours each o n one day of an early shift week and one day of a night shift week. Th e measured data show slightly lower average systolic values over 24 ho urs, as well as lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure values dur ing spare time in the night shift week as compared to the early shift week (in both cases p < 0.05). On the other hand the average value of the diastolic blood pressure during the work in the night shift is ten dentious higher than the corresponding value in the early shift. The m easured data must be taken into consideration in the medical care of s hift workers with high arterial blood pressure.