Shift work, PhenoAge acceleration and mortality in 7,548 US adults
In a US cohort followed on average 11.6 years, shift work was associated with higher all-cause mortality; greater PhenoAge acceleration statistically accounted for only a small share of this association, and causal mediation cannot be inferred. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The prospective cohort included 7,548 US adults from NHANES 2005–2010, with mortality follow-up through 2019. [1]
After full adjustment, shift work was associated with higher all-cause mortality (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.09–2.13), while CVD and cancer mortality associations were non-significant. [1]
Greater PhenoAge acceleration statistically accounted for 6.18% of the association, but causal mediation cannot be inferred. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Prospective cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 7,548 US adults from NHANES 2005–2010
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 6, 2026
Shift work versus daytime schedules in NHANES
The study asked whether shift work is associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the US population and whether accelerated biological age mediates this relationship. It was a prospective cohort of 7,548 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2010, with mortality follow-up through 2019. Shift work meant regular night, evening or rotating shifts, compared with daytime schedules. Primary outcomes were all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality.
Supporting source [1]
Higher all-cause mortality, non-significant CVD and cancer results
Among the 7,548 participants (mean follow-up 11.6 years), 358 deaths occurred. After full adjustment, shift work was associated with significantly increased all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.52; 95% confidence interval 1.09–2.13). Associations with cardiovascular and cancer mortality were not significant. Subgroup analyses of all-cause mortality showed no statistically significant interactions. Shift workers also showed greater PhenoAge acceleration (β = 0.39 years), which statistically accounted for 6.18% of the association between shift work and all-cause mortality.
Supporting source [1]
Small statistical share, no causal mediation
The authors concluded that shift work was associated with higher all-cause mortality and greater PhenoAge acceleration. PhenoAge acceleration may statistically account for a small proportion of this association, but causal mediation cannot be inferred. This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed, so details of the PhenoAge measurement and adjustment models are not available here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The design is observational, so associations are not causal, and causal mediation cannot be inferred. Details of PhenoAge measurement and adjustment models are not reported here.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Wang R, Yuan K, Li T, Liu B, Bao W, Rong S. · europepmc.org · September 6, 2026