Circadian Rhythm-Related Characteristics and Adiposity in Relation to CAP-Defined Hepatic Steatosis Among Shift and Non-Shift Workers: A Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide and linked to shift work. This study aimed to investigate the associations of circadian rhythm, sleep characteristics, anthropometric measures, and adiposity-related parameters with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values, and to assess their independent associations and sex-specific discriminatory performance in identifying hepatic steatosis among shift and non-shift workers.

Methods

A total of 436 workers (328 men and 108 women), aged 19–64 years, from seven large-scale tea factories in Rize, Türkiye, were included. Social jetlag (SJL) and eating jetlag (EJL) were calculated from workday–free-day differences in sleep and meal timing, respectively, and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Multivariable linear regression and sex-specific receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed.