title: Capture-recapture estimation of unreported work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Connecticut.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estimates of the extent of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are usually based upon workers' compensation reports, although recent reports indicate that there may be widespread under-reporting of MSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  An estimate of the incidence of arm and hand work-related MSD was made using capture-recapture analysis of the overlap between state workers' compensation reports and physician reports in Connecticut for 1995. The resulting estimate was compared to a population-based survey of MSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was very small overlap between the two state injury reporting systems: 6.7% of 793 reported workers' compensation cases, or 8% of 661 physician's reports. The estimate for MSD not captured by either system was 13,285, resulting in 14,686 (95% CI: 9,733-18,453) total reported and non-reported cases. This compares to an estimate of 13,775 cases (95% CI: 8,800-18,800) based on a phone survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis points to substantial under-reporting of MSD in Connecticut: estimates of unreported cases exceed those officially reported by a factor of 11:1. The findings have an important bearing on injury prevention programs and policy making.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. tmorse@nso.uchc.edu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hovey
mesh_terms: D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data