Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine if combined pain (pain in the upper and lower body), high occupational mechanical exposures, and job strain predict sickness absence and permanent work disability, particularly if co-occurring. METHODS: This longitudinal study was based on the musculos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
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| Online Access: |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3600
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| author | Tine Gjedde Sommer Susanne Wulff Svendsen Poul Frost |
| author_facet | Tine Gjedde Sommer Susanne Wulff Svendsen Poul Frost |
| author_sort | Tine Gjedde Sommer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine if combined pain (pain in the upper and lower body), high occupational mechanical exposures, and job strain predict sickness absence and permanent work disability, particularly if co-occurring. METHODS: This longitudinal study was based on the musculoskeletal research database at the Danish Ramazzini Centre. We linked baseline information from 2001–2004 on musculoskeletal pain, job titles, and covariates with register information on sickness absence and permanent work disability. Mechanical and psychosocial exposure estimates were obtained from job exposure matrices. We used multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: The study included 25 292 persons. Compared to low occupational mechanical exposures and no pain, low mechanical exposures and combined pain showed an adjusted hazard ratio (HR_adj) of 1.81 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.58–2.08], while high mechanical exposures and combined pain showed HR_adj 3.71 (95% CI 3.24–4.25) for sickness absence. The corresponding values for permanent work disability were 3.35 (95% CI 1.74–6.45) and 4.59 (95% CI 2.36–8.94). Job strain showed an association with sickness absence [HR_adj 1.24 (95% CI 1.10–1.39)], while low social support was associated with both sickness absence and permanent work disability [HR_adj 1.30 (95% CI 1.19–1.41) and 2.19 (95% CI 1.41–3.41), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Combined pain in the upper and lower body was associated with sickness absence and permanent work disability, and high occupational mechanical exposures further increased the risk. Job strain showed a modest association with sickness absence, while low social support at work was associated with both outcomes, especially permanent work disability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:18:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-369ea74158614493a3f30937616f2530 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0355-3140 1795-990X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:18:40Z |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-369ea74158614493a3f30937616f25302022-12-21T22:12:13ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2016-06-0142648148910.5271/sjweh.36003600Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposuresTine Gjedde Sommer0Susanne Wulff SvendsenPoul FrostDanish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine – University Research Clinic, Regional Hospital West Jutland, Gl. Landevej 61, 7400 Herning, Denmark.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine if combined pain (pain in the upper and lower body), high occupational mechanical exposures, and job strain predict sickness absence and permanent work disability, particularly if co-occurring. METHODS: This longitudinal study was based on the musculoskeletal research database at the Danish Ramazzini Centre. We linked baseline information from 2001–2004 on musculoskeletal pain, job titles, and covariates with register information on sickness absence and permanent work disability. Mechanical and psychosocial exposure estimates were obtained from job exposure matrices. We used multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: The study included 25 292 persons. Compared to low occupational mechanical exposures and no pain, low mechanical exposures and combined pain showed an adjusted hazard ratio (HR_adj) of 1.81 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.58–2.08], while high mechanical exposures and combined pain showed HR_adj 3.71 (95% CI 3.24–4.25) for sickness absence. The corresponding values for permanent work disability were 3.35 (95% CI 1.74–6.45) and 4.59 (95% CI 2.36–8.94). Job strain showed an association with sickness absence [HR_adj 1.24 (95% CI 1.10–1.39)], while low social support was associated with both sickness absence and permanent work disability [HR_adj 1.30 (95% CI 1.19–1.41) and 2.19 (95% CI 1.41–3.41), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Combined pain in the upper and lower body was associated with sickness absence and permanent work disability, and high occupational mechanical exposures further increased the risk. Job strain showed a modest association with sickness absence, while low social support at work was associated with both outcomes, especially permanent work disability. https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3600 repetitionpainwork disabilityjob exposure matrixdemandsickness absenceoccupational mechanical exposurepermanent work disabilityoccupational exposureupper-body painliftinglower-body paincohort studypsychosocial exposurecontrolsocial supportforcesickness absenceposture |
| spellingShingle | Tine Gjedde Sommer Susanne Wulff Svendsen Poul Frost Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health repetition pain work disability job exposure matrix demand sickness absence occupational mechanical exposure permanent work disability occupational exposure upper-body pain lifting lower-body pain cohort study psychosocial exposure control social support force sickness absence posture |
| title | Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures |
| title_full | Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures |
| title_fullStr | Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures |
| title_short | Sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper- and lower-body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures |
| title_sort | sickness absence and permanent work disability in relation to upper and lower body pain and occupational mechanical and psychosocial exposures |
| topic | repetition pain work disability job exposure matrix demand sickness absence occupational mechanical exposure permanent work disability occupational exposure upper-body pain lifting lower-body pain cohort study psychosocial exposure control social support force sickness absence posture |
| url |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3600
|
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