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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology

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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Research

The riddle of shiftwork and disturbed chronobiology: a case study of landmark smoking data demonstrates fallacies of not considering the ubiquity of an exposure

Authors: Thomas C. Erren, Philip Lewis, Peter Morfeld

Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Failing to integrate all sources of a ubiquitous hazard candidate may explain inconsistent and/or null, and overall misleading, results in epidemiological studies such as those related to shift-work.

Methods

We explore this rationale on the assumption that Doll and Hill had confined their 1950 landmark study to smoking at workplaces alone. We assess how non-differential, or how differential, underestimation of exposure could have biased computed risks.

Results

Systematically unappreciated exposures at play could have led to substantial information bias. Beyond affecting the magnitude of risks, not even the direction of risk distortion would have been predictable.

Conclusions

Disturbed chronobiology research should consider cumulative doses from all walks of life. This is a conditiosine qua non to avoid potentially biased and uninterpretable risk estimates when assessing effects of a ubiquitous hazard candidate.

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Title: The riddle of shiftwork and disturbed chronobiology: a case study of landmark smoking data demonstrates fallacies of not considering the ubiquity of an exposure
Authors: Thomas C. Erren
Philip Lewis
Peter Morfeld
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6673
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-020-00263-2

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Springer Medicine

The riddle of shiftwork and disturbed chronobiology: a case study of landmark smoking data demonstrates fallacies of not considering the ubiquity of an exposure

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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