Physical activity partly inhibits autonomic imbalance, immune dysfunction and quality of life induced by chronic shiftwork in policemen
7 affiliations
- 1Post‐graduation Program in Sciences of Human Movement and Rehabilitation Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) São Paulo Brazil
- 2School of Physical Education of Military Police of State of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- 3Laboratory of Pulmonary and Exercise Immunology (LABPEI) Evangelical University of Goias (UniEvangelica) Anápolis Brazil
- 4Post‐graduation Program in Health Sciences Santo Amaro University (UNISA) São Paulo Brazil
- 5Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) São Paulo Brazil
- 6Department of Sport Nutrition and Fitness Applied and Science University Tehran Iran
- 7Brazilian Institute of Teaching and Research in Pulmonary and Exercise Immunology (IBEPIPE) São Paulo Brazil
Abstract
Chronic shiftwork can impair autonomic cardiovascular regulation and immune homeostasis. However, the interaction between occupational status and physical activity level in military police officers remains incompletely understood. This cross‐sectional factorial study included 102 men stratified according to occupational status and physical activity level: physically active military police officers (PMP; n = 26), physically inactive military police officers (PMNP; n = 26), physically active civilians (CVP; n = 25) and physically inactive civilians (CVNP; n = 25). Quality of life, perceived stress, sleepiness, haematological parameters, cytokines and heart rate variability were assessed. Physical activity improved several Short‐form questionnaire (SF‐36) domains, particularly Physical Functioning and General Health. Military police officers demonstrated lower mean normal‐to‐normal intervals and lower high‐frequency power than civilians, indicating differences in resting autonomic cardiovascular modulation associated with occupational status. Serum interleukin‐10 concentrations were significantly lower in military police officers, whereas interleukin‐2, interleukin‐17 and interferon‐γ did not differ significantly according to occupational status. Haemoglobin levels and platelet counts demonstrated significant occupational status × physical activity interactions. Perceived stress scores were lower in military police officers than in civilians. Chronic occupational exposure to shiftwork was associated with altered autonomic cardiovascular regulation and immune regulation in military police officers. Regular physical activity improved quality of life somewhat; however, several physiological alterations remained predominantly associated with occupational status, reinforcing the importance of occupational strategies targeting circadian health and physiological resilience. These findings highlight the physiological complexity of chronic shiftwork exposure in tactical occupational populations.
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BibTeX
@article{aquinosantos2026physical,
title = {{Physical activity partly inhibits autonomic imbalance, immune dysfunction and quality of life induced by chronic shiftwork in policemen}},
author = {Hélida C. Aquino‐Santos and Jeanne S. Tavares‐Vasconcelos and Anamei Silva‐Reis and Maysa A. R. Brandão‐Rangel and Rayssa T. Morais‐Felix and Fernando A. Santa‐Rosa and André L. L. Bachi and Viviane Soares and Omid Salehian and Claudio R. Frison and Rodolfo P. Vieira and Regiane Albertini},
journal = {Experimental Physiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1113/ep094113},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1113/ep094113},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Physical activity partly inhibits autonomic imbalance, immune dysfunction and quality of life induced by chronic shiftwork in policemen
AU - Hélida C. Aquino‐Santos
AU - Jeanne S. Tavares‐Vasconcelos
AU - Anamei Silva‐Reis
AU - Maysa A. R. Brandão‐Rangel
AU - Rayssa T. Morais‐Felix
AU - Fernando A. Santa‐Rosa
AU - André L. L. Bachi
AU - Viviane Soares
AU - Omid Salehian
AU - Claudio R. Frison
AU - Rodolfo P. Vieira
AU - Regiane Albertini
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Experimental Physiology
DO - 10.1113/ep094113
UR - https://doi.org/10.1113/ep094113
AB - Chronic shiftwork can impair autonomic cardiovascular regulation and immune homeostasis. However, the interaction between occupational status and physical activity level in military police officers remains incompletely understood. This cross‐sectional factorial study included 102 men stratified according to occupational status and physical activity level: physically active military police officers (PMP; n = 26), physically inactive military police officers (PMNP; n = 26), physically active civilians (CVP; n = 25) and physically inactive civilians (CVNP; n = 25). Quality of life, perceived stress, sleepiness, haematological parameters, cytokines and heart rate variability were assessed. Physical activity improved several Short‐form questionnaire (SF‐36) domains, particularly Physical Functioning and General Health. Military police officers demonstrated lower mean normal‐to‐normal intervals and lower high‐frequency power than civilians, indicating differences in resting autonomic cardiovascular modulation associated with occupational status. Serum interleukin‐10 concentrations were significantly lower in military police officers, whereas interleukin‐2, interleukin‐17 and interferon‐γ did not differ significantly according to occupational status. Haemoglobin levels and platelet counts demonstrated significant occupational status × physical activity interactions. Perceived stress scores were lower in military police officers than in civilians. Chronic occupational exposure to shiftwork was associated with altered autonomic cardiovascular regulation and immune regulation in military police officers. Regular physical activity improved quality of life somewhat; however, several physiological alterations remained predominantly associated with occupational status, reinforcing the importance of occupational strategies targeting circadian health and physiological resilience. These findings highlight the physiological complexity of chronic shiftwork exposure in tactical occupational populations.
SN - 0958-0670
SN - 1469-445X
ER -