Risk factors for hospitalization due to lumbar disc disease

• Study Design. Prospective cohort studyObjective. To study biomechanical factors in relation to symptomatic lumbar disc diseaseSummary of Background Data. The importance of biomechanical factors in lumbar disc disease have been questioned the past decade and knowledge from large prospective studies is lacking.Methods. The study basis is a cohort of 263 529 Swedish construction workers who participated in a national occupational health surveillance programme from 1971 until 1992. The workers' job title, smoking habits, body weight, height and age were registered at the examinations. The occurrence of hospitalization due to lumbar disc disease from January 1 1987 until December 31 2003 was collected from a linkage with the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register.Results. There was an increased risk for hospitalization due to lumbar disc disease for several occupational groups compared to white-collar workers and foremen. Occupational groups with high biomechanical loads had the highest risks, e.g the relative risk for concrete workers was 1.55 (95% CI 1.29-1.87). A taller stature was consistently associated with an increased risk. The relative risk for a man of 190-199 cm height was 1.55 (95% CI 1.30-1.86) compared to a man being 170-179 cm. Body weight and smoking were also risk factors, but weaker than height. Workers in the age span of 30-39 had the highest relative risk (RR = 1.87; 95% CI 1.58-2.23) compared to those 20-29, while men 60-65 years old had a lower risk (RR = 0.86; 95%CI 0.68-1.09).Conclusions. This study indicates that factors increasing the load on the lumbar spine are associated with hospitalization for lumbar disc disease. Occupational biomechanical factors seem to be important, and a taller stature was consistently associated with an increased risk.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

low back pain; lumbar radiculopathy; lumbar disc disease; lumbar disc herniation; epidemiology; biomechanical exposure; occupational factors

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