Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-up
Abstract Background Musculoskeletal pain is a risk factor for leaving the labour market temporarily and permanently. While the presence of multi-site pain increases the risk of disability pension, we lack detailed knowledge about pain intensity as a risk factor. This study investigated the associati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04655-1 |
| _version_ | 1819023627850350592 |
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| author | Rúni Bláfoss Jonas Vinstrup Sebastian Venge Skovlund Rubén López-Bueno Joaquin Calatayud Thomas Clausen Lars Louis Andersen |
| author_facet | Rúni Bláfoss Jonas Vinstrup Sebastian Venge Skovlund Rubén López-Bueno Joaquin Calatayud Thomas Clausen Lars Louis Andersen |
| author_sort | Rúni Bláfoss |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Musculoskeletal pain is a risk factor for leaving the labour market temporarily and permanently. While the presence of multi-site pain increases the risk of disability pension, we lack detailed knowledge about pain intensity as a risk factor. This study investigated the association between musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of future disability pension among eldercare workers. Methods Eight thousand seven hundred thirty-one female eldercare workers replied to a questionnaire on work and health in 2005 and were followed for 11 years in the Danish Register for Evaluation of Marginalization. Time-to-event analyses estimated hazard ratios (HR) for disability pension from pain intensities (0–9 numeric rating scale (NRS)) in the low-back, neck/shoulders, and knees during the previous 3 months. Analyses were mutually adjusted for pain regions, age, education, lifestyle, psychosocial work factors, and physical exertion at work. Results During 11-year follow-up, 1035 (11.9%) of the eldercare workers received disability pension. For all body regions among all eldercare workers, dose-response associations were observed between higher pain intensity and risk of disability pension (p < 0.001). The risk for disability pension was increased when reporting “very high” pain levels (≥7 points on the 0–9 NRS) in the low-back (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.70–2.82), neck/shoulders (HR 2.34, 95% CI 1.88–2.92), and knees (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.44–2.47). Population attributable risks (PAR) were 15.5, 23.2, and 9.6% for pain > 2 on NRS in the low-back, neck/shoulders, and knees, respectively, indicating that 15.5, 23.2, and 9.6% fewer eldercare workers would likely receive disability pension if the pain intensity was reduced to 2 or less. For workers ≤45 years and > 45 years, PAR was highest for neck/shoulder pain (27.6%) and low-back pain (18.8%), respectively. Conclusions The present study found positive dose-response associations between pain intensity in the low-back, neck/shoulders, and knees, and risk of disability pension during 11-year follow-up. Moderate to very high levels of musculoskeletal pain in eldercare workers should, therefore, be considered an early warning sign of involuntary premature exit from the labour market. These findings underscore the importance of preventing, managing, and reducing musculoskeletal pain to ensure a long and healthy working life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:41:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-783c2b94c0134b3ab0ad6a0b8b302e75 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2474 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:41:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-783c2b94c0134b3ab0ad6a0b8b302e752022-12-21T19:15:41ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742021-09-012211910.1186/s12891-021-04655-1Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-upRúni Bláfoss0Jonas Vinstrup1Sebastian Venge Skovlund2Rubén López-Bueno3Joaquin Calatayud4Thomas Clausen5Lars Louis Andersen6National Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentAbstract Background Musculoskeletal pain is a risk factor for leaving the labour market temporarily and permanently. While the presence of multi-site pain increases the risk of disability pension, we lack detailed knowledge about pain intensity as a risk factor. This study investigated the association between musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of future disability pension among eldercare workers. Methods Eight thousand seven hundred thirty-one female eldercare workers replied to a questionnaire on work and health in 2005 and were followed for 11 years in the Danish Register for Evaluation of Marginalization. Time-to-event analyses estimated hazard ratios (HR) for disability pension from pain intensities (0–9 numeric rating scale (NRS)) in the low-back, neck/shoulders, and knees during the previous 3 months. Analyses were mutually adjusted for pain regions, age, education, lifestyle, psychosocial work factors, and physical exertion at work. Results During 11-year follow-up, 1035 (11.9%) of the eldercare workers received disability pension. For all body regions among all eldercare workers, dose-response associations were observed between higher pain intensity and risk of disability pension (p < 0.001). The risk for disability pension was increased when reporting “very high” pain levels (≥7 points on the 0–9 NRS) in the low-back (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.70–2.82), neck/shoulders (HR 2.34, 95% CI 1.88–2.92), and knees (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.44–2.47). Population attributable risks (PAR) were 15.5, 23.2, and 9.6% for pain > 2 on NRS in the low-back, neck/shoulders, and knees, respectively, indicating that 15.5, 23.2, and 9.6% fewer eldercare workers would likely receive disability pension if the pain intensity was reduced to 2 or less. For workers ≤45 years and > 45 years, PAR was highest for neck/shoulder pain (27.6%) and low-back pain (18.8%), respectively. Conclusions The present study found positive dose-response associations between pain intensity in the low-back, neck/shoulders, and knees, and risk of disability pension during 11-year follow-up. Moderate to very high levels of musculoskeletal pain in eldercare workers should, therefore, be considered an early warning sign of involuntary premature exit from the labour market. These findings underscore the importance of preventing, managing, and reducing musculoskeletal pain to ensure a long and healthy working life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04655-1Musculoskeletal diseasesHealth personnelWorking lifeWork abilityPensions |
| spellingShingle | Rúni Bláfoss Jonas Vinstrup Sebastian Venge Skovlund Rubén López-Bueno Joaquin Calatayud Thomas Clausen Lars Louis Andersen Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-up BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Musculoskeletal diseases Health personnel Working life Work ability Pensions |
| title | Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-up |
| title_full | Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-up |
| title_fullStr | Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-up |
| title_full_unstemmed | Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-up |
| title_short | Musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers: prospective cohort study with 11-year register follow-up |
| title_sort | musculoskeletal pain intensity in different body regions and risk of disability pension among female eldercare workers prospective cohort study with 11 year register follow up |
| topic | Musculoskeletal diseases Health personnel Working life Work ability Pensions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04655-1 |
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