Risk factors for incidence of rotator cuff syndrome in a large working population.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of personal and work-related factors on the incidence of rotator cuff syndrome (RCS) in a large working population. METHODS: A total of 3710 French workers were included in a cross-sectional study in 2002-2005. All completed a self-administered questionnaire about personal factors and work exposure. Using a standardized physical examination, occupational physicians established a diagnosis of RCS. Between 2007-2010, 1611 workers were re-examined. Associations between RCS and risk factors at baseline were analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 839 men and 617 women without RCS at baseline were eligible for analysis. RCS was diagnosed in 51 men (6.1%) and 45 women (7.3%). The risk of RCS increased with age for both genders [odds ratio (OR) 4.7 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.2-10.0) for men aged 45-49 years and 5.4 (95% CI 2.3-13.2) for women aged 50-59 years; reference <40 years]. For men, the work-related risk factors were repeated posture with the arms above the shoulder level combined with high perceived physical exertion [OR 3.3 (95% CI 1.3-8.4)] and low coworker support [OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.1-3.9)]. For women, working with colleagues in temporary employment [OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.2-4.2)] and repeated arm abduction (60-90°) [OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.4-5.0)] were associated with RCS. CONCLUSIONS: Age was the strongest predictor for incident cases of RCS, and arm abduction was the major work-related risk factor for both genders. Lack of social support was a predictor for RCS among men.

Personal, biomechanical, and psychosocial risk factors for rotator cuff syndrome in a working population.

OBJECTIVE: Rotator cuff syndrome (RCS) is a major health problem among workers. The aim of the study was to examine the risk factors for RCS among workers exposed to various levels of shoulder constraints. METHODS: From 3710 workers, representative of a French region`s working population, trained occupational physicians diagnosed a total of 142 cases of RCS among men and 132 among women between 2002-2005. Diagnoses were established by standardized physical examination while personal factors and work exposure were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. Statistical associations between RCS and personal and work-related factors were analyzed for each gender using logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: The personal risk factors for RCS were age [odds ratio (OR) for 1-year increment 1.07, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.05-1.09, among men and 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.10, among women] and diabetes mellitus (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.0-8.6, among women). The work-related risk factors were (i) sustained or repeated arm abduction (≥ 2 hours/day) >90 degrees among men (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-3.9) and >60 degrees among women (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.2) or both conditions among men (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7) and women (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.8-7.3); (ii) high repetitiveness of the task (≥ 4 hours/day) among men (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.4) and women (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.5); (iii) high perceived physical demand among men (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.1); (iv) high psychological demand among men (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.5); and (v) low decision authority among women (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3). CONCLUSION: Personal (ie, age) and work-related physical (ie, arm abduction) and psychosocial factors were associated with RCS for both genders in this working population.

Risk factors for de Quervain's disease in a French working population.

OBJECTIVE: De Quervain's disease (DQD) is a significant cause of musculoskeletal pain among workers. The aim of this study was to assess the relative importance of personal and occupational risk factors for DQD in a working population. METHODS: A total of 3710 workers from a French region were randomly included in the cross-sectional study between 2002-2005. There were 45 subjects with DQD (of these, 5 subjects had a bilateral condition), diagnosed by 83 trained occupational physicians performing a standardized physical examination. Individual factors and work exposure were assessed by a standardized physical and a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical associations between DQD and individual and occupational factors were analyzed using logistic regression modeling in the whole sample and among women. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of uni- or bilateral DQD for the whole, male and female working populations were 1.2% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.9-1.6], 0.6% (95% CI 0.3-0.9) and 2.1% (95% CI 1.4-2.8), respectively. Personal risk factors for DQD were mainly age (1.1 for 1-year increase in age) and female gender [odds ratio (OR) 4.9, 95% CI 2.4-10.1]. Work-related factors were workpace dependent on (i) technical organization (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-4.0), (ii) repeated or sustained wrist bending in extreme posture (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.3) and (iii) repeated movements associated with the twisting or driving of screws (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.7-7.1). No association was found with psychosocial factors. CONCLUSIONS: Personal and work-related factors were associated with DQD in the working population; wrist bending and movements associated with the twisting or driving of screws were the most significant of the work-related factors.