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The Relationship Between BMI and Work-Related Musculoskeletal (MSK) Injury Rates is Modified by Job-Associated Level
Ashley Schoenfisch1, John Dement, Kayla Stankevitz
1Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina (Dr Schoenfisch); Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (Drs Schoenfisch, Dement, Ms Stankevitz, Østbye); Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Stankevitz, Dr Østbye); FHI 360, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Stankevitz); and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore (Dr Østbye).
Higher body mass index (BMI) increases musculoskeletal (MSK) injury risk, especially in lower-risk jobs. However, high-risk occupations still have more MSK injuries overall.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries represent a significant occupational health burden.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is a modifiable factor linked to various health outcomes, including injury risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between BMI and occupational MSK injury rates.
- To analyze the statistical interaction between BMI and job-specific MSK injury risk levels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 17 years of data from 38,214 university and health system employees.
- Employed multivariate Poisson regression to model the interplay between BMI, MSK injury risk, and injury rates.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was found between BMI and occupational MSK injury risk.
- The impact of BMI on MSK injury rates was most pronounced in low-risk occupations.
- Absolute MSK injury rates were higher in mid- and high-risk occupations, irrespective of BMI.
Conclusions:
- While managing worker BMI is important for reducing MSK injury burden, it should complement, not replace, job-specific hazard interventions.
- Targeting job-specific MSK injury risks remains critical for overall occupational safety.