| 1. |
- Jackson, Jennie A, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational biomechanical risk factors for surgically treated ulnar nerve entrapment in a prospective study of male construction workers
- 2019
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH). - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 45:1, s. 63-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association between occupational biomechanical exposures and occurrence of surgically treated ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE).Methods: A cohort of 229 689 male construction workers who participated in a national occupational health surveillance program (1971–1993) were examined prospectively over a 13-year case ascertainment period (2001–2013) for surgically treated UNE. Job title (construction trade), smoking status, height, weight and age were recorded on examination. Job titles were merged into occupational groups of workers performing similar work tasks and having similar training. Occupational biomechanical exposure estimates were assigned to each occupational group with a job exposure matrix (JEM) developed for the study. Negative binomial models were used to assess the relative risks for each biomechanical exposure and the sums of highly correlated biomechanical exposures. Surgical treatment of UNE was determined via a linkage with the Swedish Hospital Outpatient Surgery Register.Results: There were 555 cases of surgically treated UNE within the cohort. Workers exposed to forceful hand-grip factors had a 1.4-fold higher relative risk (95% CI 1.18–1.63) of undergoing surgical treatment for UNE compared to unexposed workers. Occupational groups comprising workers exposed to forceful hand-grip work showed the highest risks for UNE and included concrete workers, floor layers, ground preparatory workers, rock blasters, and sheet-metal workers.Conclusion: Forceful hand-grip work increases the risk for surgically treated ulnar nerve entrapment.
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| 2. |
- Jackson, Jennie, et al.
(författare)
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Biomechanical risk factors for surgically treated ulnar nerve entrapment in a cohort of Swedish male construction workers
- 2018
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: The literature on occupational risk factors for ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE), also called cubital tunnel syndrome is sparse.Objectives: The aim was study the association between occupational biomechanical exposures and UNE.Methods: The occurrence of UNE was examined prospectively in a cohort of 229 689 Swedish male construction workers who participated in a nation-wide occupational health surveillance program between 1971 and 1996. UNE case status was defined on the basis of a surgical release of ulnar nerve entrapment; case data were obtained from a national outpatient database for a 13 year observation period (2001-2013). Individual risk factors considered were smoking status, BMI and age. Biomechanical exposure estimates were assigned at the occupational group level using a job exposure matrix developed specifically for the study and included 10 ergonomic (force/posture/repetition) and 2 hand-arm vibration exposure parameters determined a priori to be relevant to UNE. Relative risks (RR) for all biomechanical factors were modelled using negative binomial regression analyses and adjusted for age, smoking habits and BMI.Results: There were 555 cases of surgically treated UNE in the cohort and the average annual incidence was 19.2 cases per 100,000 person-years. Smoking status (ever vs. never smoker RR=1.28, 95% CI=1.07-1.54) and BMI (≥25 kg/m2 vs. < 25 kg/m2 RR=1.60 , 95% CI=1.34-1.91) were associated with increased risk of UNE. Increased grip force (RR=1.54, 95% CI =1.24-1.92), hand-Arm-vibration (RR=1.35, 95% CI=1.07-1.71) upper extremity load (RR=1.63, 95% CI=1.30-1.92), and increased frequency of hand tool use (RR =1.37, 95% CI=1.09-1.71), elbow flexion and extension (RR=1.36, 95% CI=1.10-1.68), and static work (RR=1.36, 95% CI=1.12-1.65) were also associated with increased risk of UNE.Discussion and Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that multiple biomechanical factors were associated with increased risk of UNE. Many of the identified risk factors involved elevated hand grip force (grip force, upper extremity load, and frequency of hand tool use and hand-arm vibration) which may indicate it is a key etiological aspect of UNE.
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| 3. |
- Jackson, Jennie, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational biomechanical risk factors for radial nerve entrapment in a 13-year prospective study among male construction workers
- 2019
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 76:5, s. 326-331
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The aim was to assess the association between occupational biomechanical exposure and the occurrence of radial nerve entrapment (RNE) in construction workers over a 13-year follow-up period. Methods A cohort of 229 707 male construction workers who participated in a national occupational health surveillance programme (1971-1993) was examined prospectively (2001-2013) for RNE. Height, weight, age, smoking status and job title (construction trade) were obtained on health examination. RNE case status was defined by surgical release of RNE, with data from the Swedish national registry for out-patient surgery records. A job exposure matrix was developed, and biomechanical exposure estimates were assigned according to job title. Highly correlated exposures were summed into biomechanical exposure scores. Negative binomial models were used to estimate the relative risks (RR) (incidence rate ratios) of RNE surgical release for the biomechanical factors and exposure sum scores. Predicted incidence was assessed for each exposure score modelled as a continuous variable to assess exposure-response relationships. Results The total incidence rate of surgically treated RNE over the 13-year observation period was 3.53 cases per 100 000 person-years. There were 92 cases with occupational information. Increased risk for RNE was seen in workers with elevated hand-grip forces (RR=1.79, 95% CI 0.97 to 3.28) and exposure to hand-arm vibration (RR=1.47, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.00). Conclusions Occupational exposure to forceful handgrip work and vibration increased the risk for surgical treatment of RNE.
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| 4. |
- Järvholm, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of reduced use of organic solvents on disability pension in painters
- 2017
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - London : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 74:11, s. 827-829
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the decreased use of paints based on organic solvents has caused a decreased risk for neuropsychiatric disorders in painters by studying their incidence in disability pensions.METHODS: The incidence of disability pension in Swedish painters who had participated in health examinations between 1971 and 1993 was studied through linkage with Swedish registers of disability pension over 1971-2010 and compared with the incidence in other construction workers as woodworkers, concrete workers and platers. When phasing out began in the 1970s, about 40% of paints were based on organic solvents and it had decreased to 4% in 1990s. The analysis was adjusted for age, time period, body mass index and smoking.RESULTS: The painters (n=23 065) had an increased risk of disability pension due to neurological diagnosis (n=285, relative risk (RR) 1.92, 95% CI 1.67 to 2.20) and psychiatric diagnosis (n=632, RR=1.61, 95 % CI 1.42 to 1.82). For neurological disorders there was a time trend with a continuously decreasing risk from 1980 onwards, but there was no such trend for psychiatric disorders.CONCLUSIONS: High exposure to organic solvents increased the risk for disability pension in neurological disorders, and the risk decreased when the use of organic solvents decreased. The painters also had an increased risk of disability pension due to psychiatric disorders, but the causes have to be further investigated.
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| 5. |
- Järvholm, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
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Emerging evidence that the ban on asbestos use is reducing the occurrence of pleural mesothelioma in Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 43:8, s. 875-881
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: Several countries have banned the use of asbestos. The future health impacts of previous use have been modeled but there are to our knowledge no convincing studies showing a decreased occurrence of asbestos-related diseases due to a ban. The aim of our study was to estimate the effects of the ban and other measures to decrease the use of asbestos in Sweden.METHODS: The effect was measured through comparing the incidence of pleural malignant mesothelioma in birth cohorts who started to work before and after the decrease in the use of asbestos, i.e. in mid-1970s. Cases were identified through the Swedish Cancer Registry and the analysis was restricted to persons born in Sweden.RESULTS: Men and women born 1955-79 had a decreased risk of malignant pleural mesothelioma compared to men and women born 1940-49 (RR 0.16, 95% CI 0.11-0.25; and RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.97 respectively). The decreased use of asbestos prevented each year about 10 cases in men and two cases in women below the age of 57 years in 2012.CONCLUSIONS: The ban and decreased use of asbestos in Sweden can be measured today in birth cohorts that started their working career after the decrease.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Meding, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Disability Pensions due to Skin Diseases : A Cohort Study in Swedish Construction Workers
- 2016
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Ingår i: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 0001-5555 .- 1651-2057. ; 96:2, s. 232-236
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Disability pensions due to skin diseases in Swedish male construction workers were studied by linking data from pension registers and an occupational health service. Incidence rates of disability pensions for cement workers, painters and plumbers were compared with 2 control groups. A total of 623 disability pensions were granted during 4 decades of follow-up. The main diagnoses were eczema (36%) and psoriasis (49%). Pensions were mostly granted in the age range 55-64 years. Among painters, cement workers and plumbers the incidence rates for disability pensions were 33.3, 24.5 and 20.4 cases/100,000 person-years, respectively, compared with 13.7 and 9.2 cases/100,000 person-years in control groups. Relative risks were highest for eczema, and were notable for psoriasis. Attributable fractions for eczema were 90% in cement workers and painters and 75% in plumbers compared with control groups. Attributable fractions for psoriasis in the occupational groups studied were in the range 54-67%. In conclusion, eczema and psoriasis have a high impact on loss of work ability, as reflected by disability pensions.
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| 8. |
- Robroek, Suzan J W, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of obesity and physical workload on disability benefits among construction workers followed up for 37 years
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948 .- 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 74:9, s. 621-627
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to investigate the relation between obesity and labour force exit via diagnosis-specific disability benefits, and whether physical workload modifies this association.METHODS: A longitudinal analysis was performed among 3 28 743 Swedish construction workers in the age of 15-65 years. Body weight and height were measured at a health examination and enriched with register information on disability benefits up to 37 years later. Diagnoses of disability benefits were categorised into cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs), mental disorders and others. A job exposure matrix, based on self-reported lifting of heavy loads and working in bent forward or twisted position, was applied as a measure of physical workload. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed, and the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) between obesity and physical workload was calculated.RESULTS: Obese construction workers were at increased risk of receiving disability benefits (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.76), mainly through CVD (HR 2.30) and MSD (HR 1.71). Construction workers with a high physical workload were also more likely to receive a disability benefit (HR 2.28, 95% CI 2.21 to 2.34), particularly via MSD (HR 3.02). Obesity in combination with a higher physical workload increased the risk of disability benefits (RERI 0.28) more than the sum of the risks of obesity and higher physical workload, particularly for MSD (RERI 0.44).CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and a high physical workload are risk factors for disability benefit. Furthermore, these factors are synergistic risk factors for labour force exit via disability benefit through MSD. Comprehensive programmes that target health promotion to prevent obesity and ergonomic interventions to reduce physical workload are important to facilitate sustained employment.
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| 9. |
- van der Beek, Allard, et al.
(författare)
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A research framework for the development and implementation of interventions preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 43:6, s. 526-539
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are highly prevalent and put a large burden on the (working) society. Primary prevention of work-related MSD focuses often on physical risk factors (such as on manual lifting and awkward postures), but has not been too successful in reducing the MSD burden. This may partly be caused by insufficient knowledge of etiological mechanisms and/or a lack of adequately feasible interventions (theory failure and program failure, respectively), possibly due to limited integration of research disciplines. A research framework could link research disciplines thereby strengthening the development and implementation of preventive interventions. Our objective was to define and describe such a framework for multi-disciplinary research on work-related MSD prevention.Methods: We described a framework for MSD prevention research, partly based on frameworks from other research fields (i.e., sports injury prevention and public health).Results: The framework is composed of a repeated sequence of six steps comprising the assessment of 1) incidence and severity of MSD, 2) risk factors for MSD, and 3) underlying mechanisms; and the 4) development, 5) evaluation, and 6) implementation of preventive intervention(s).Conclusions: In the present framework for optimal work-related MSD prevention, research disciplines are linked. This framework can thereby help to improve theories and strengthen the development and implementation of prevention strategies for work-related MSD.
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