Shoulder joint impairment among Finns aged 30 years or over: prevalence, risk factors and co-morbidity.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of shoulder joint impairment in the population.


METHODS
A representative sample (n = 7217) of the Finnish population aged > or = 30 yr participated in a health examination survey (the Mini-Finland Health Survey). The design of the survey allowed an independent assessment of disability, reported shoulder pain, shoulder joint impairment and major chronic co-morbidity.


RESULTS
Shoulder impairment was observed in 8.8%, while pain was reported by 30%. The prevalence of shoulder pain decreased among the elderly, whereas impairments increased up to 20% of those aged 75-80 yr. In addition to age, sex, previous injury to the shoulder joint and a history of physically heavy work, diabetes was associated with shoulder impairment (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1). Shoulder impairment was associated with disability (adjusted OR 2.0, CI 1.6-2.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Shoulder impairment is an important component of ill health among the elderly, and cannot be reduced to reported pain alone.
Mäkelä
M
M
National Public Health Institute, Department of Health and Disability, Helsinki, Finland.
Heliövaara
M
M
Sainio
P
P
Knekt
P
P
Impivaara
O
O
Aromaa
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*