Excessive sleepiness in shift work disorder: a narrative review of the last 5 years

• Published in: Sleep & breathing Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 297 - 310
• Main Authors: Savarese, Mariantonietta, Di Perri, Maria Caterina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.03.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Circadian Rhythm - drug effects; Circadian rhythms; Clinical trials; Dentistry; Disability Evaluation; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - diagnosis; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - drug therapy; Excessive Daytime Sleepiness; Female; Humans; Internal Medicine; Intolerance; Male; Medical personnel; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Modafinil - therapeutic use; Neurology; Nighttime; Otorhinolaryngology; Pediatrics; Performance evaluation; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Psychiatrics • Review; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Shift work; Sleep and wakefulness; Sleep deprivation; Sleep disorders; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm - diagnosis; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm - drug therapy; Work Schedule Tolerance; Alertness; Armodafinil; Shift work disorder; excessive sleepiness; Stimulants; Performance; Insomnia
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-019-01925-0

Introduction Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), also known as shift work disorder (SWD), is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterized by insomnia and/or excessive sleepiness, associated with a recurring work schedule that overlaps the usual time designated for sleeping. Purpose This article aims to provide a narrative review of the pharmacological trials conducted on SWD in the last 5 years, to better address safety and health issues inherent to this disorder. Methods An electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed. All eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cross-over RCTs with employees undertaking shift work (including night shifts) were considered, yielding three articles. Results All three studies showed the efficacy of armodafinil in improving subjective and objective sleepiness, clinical conditions, and global functioning regardless of shift duration. Both performance and driving simulator performance tests administered during the night shift bore better results following armodafinil administration than after placebo. However, armodafinil only reduced subjective disability in individuals working more than 9 h; furthermore, even after armodafinil, alertness was reduced but not normalized. Conclusion These studies underscore the importance of preventing and/or minimizing disturbances due to shift work. This may be achieved through various strategies, such as the employer’s commitment to adopt ergonomic criteria in shift design and to implement work-environment interventions like controlled bright light. Health personnel is of pivotal importance to detect potential factors of intolerance to shift work or early symptoms of SWD. Additional and improved studies are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness and safety of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.