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Published on: December 13, 2024
Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea risk and low back pain among shift workers in a tire manufacturing
Sunjin Jung1, Seunghyeon Cho2, Suwhan Kim1
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea.
Background:
Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among industrial workers, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been increasingly recognized as a factor influencing pain modulation. This study evaluated the association between OSA risk, assessed by the STOP-Bang questionnaire, and LBP among shift workers in a tire manufacturing factory.
Methods:
A total of 976 male shift workers from a tire manufacturing factory were analyzed. OSA risk was assessed using the STOP-Bang questionnaire and classified as low, moderate, or high. LBP and musculoskeletal pain were defined as self-reported symptoms occurring within the preceding 6 months. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results:
Compared with workers at low OSA risk, those at moderate and high risk had significantly higher odds of LBP (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.02-2.20; p = 0.038; and OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.20-2.55; p = 0.004, respectively). Similarly, moderate and high OSA risk were independently associated with increased odds of musculoskeletal pain (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.26-2.73; p = 0.002; and OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.26-2.68; p = 0.002, respectively).
Conclusions:
Among male shift workers, elevated OSA risk is independently associated with a higher prevalence of LBP and musculoskeletal pain. Systematic workplace screening for OSA risk using the STOP-Bang questionnaire may support occupational health assessments by identifying shift workers with elevated OSA risk who are more likely to report pain-related morbidity.
