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Coxarthrosis and physical work load
E Vingård1, C Hogstedt, L Alfredsson
1Department of Occupational Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Physical work loads, including heavy lifting, significantly increase the risk of developing severe coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis). Long-term exposure to demanding physical jobs is a key risk factor for this condition in men.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Orthopedics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coxarthrosis, or hip osteoarthritis, is a degenerative joint disease.
- Physical workload is a suspected, but not fully elucidated, risk factor for coxarthrosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between physical workload and the risk of developing severe idiopathic coxarthrosis in men.
- To quantify the relative risk of coxarthrosis associated with different types of physical work loads.
Main Methods:
- A case-referent study design was employed.
- Cases comprised 239 men who received hip prostheses for severe coxarthrosis.
- Referents were 302 men randomly selected from the general population, with work exposure assessed via interview and questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Men with high exposure to dynamic or static work loads showed an increased relative risk (RR) of 2.42 (95% CI 1.45-4.04) for coxarthrosis compared to low-exposure men.
- High exposure to heavy lifting between ages 30-49 years yielded the highest RR of 3.31 (95% CI 1.97-5.57).
- Prolonged exposure to physical work loads emerged as a significant risk factor.
Conclusions:
- Physical workload, particularly heavy lifting and prolonged exposure, is a significant risk factor for developing severe coxarthrosis in men.
- Occupational health interventions should consider mitigating physical demands to reduce the incidence of hip osteoarthritis.