Epidemiology of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazil, 2007-2021

The intensification of labor exploitation contributes to the occurrence of work-related health conditions. In this context, the increasing prevalence of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represents a major concern for the health of Brazilian workers.

To describe the epidemiological profile and prevalence rates of RSIs and WMSDs among workers in Brazil based on notification records from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) between 2007 and 2021.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using notification data from SINAN and population information obtained from the Brazilian National Household Sample Survey (PNAD), the Demographic Census, and the Continuous PNAD. Sociodemographic variables were described using absolute and relative frequencies. Prevalence rates were estimated according to year, sociodemographic characteristics, macroregions, and Brazil as a whole using Poisson regression.

A total of 102,986 cases were reported during the study period. Over the 15-year period, the states of Piauí, Amapá, Roraima, Acre, and Rondônia each recorded fewer than 4,000 cases. In contrast, São Paulo reported more than 32,000 cases during the same period. The highest prevalence rates were observed in 2017 among women (12.84 per 100,000 workers), self-identified White individuals (8.19 per 100,000 workers), individuals with complete secondary or higher education (4.89 per 100,000 workers), and workers aged 40 to 59 years (10.69 per 100,000 workers).

The highest prevalences of RSIs and WMSDs were observed among women, self-identified White individuals, people with complete secondary or higher education, and workers aged 40 to 59 years. In addition, disparities were identified in both notifications and prevalence rates across Brazilian states and macroregions.