title: Low back pain and widespread pain predict sickness absence among industrial workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the aluminium industry is high, and there is a considerable work-related fraction. More knowledge about the predictors of sickness absence from MSD in this industry will be valuable in determining strategies for prevention. The aim of this study was to analyse the relative impact of body parts, psychosocial and individual factors as predictors for short- and long-term sickness absence from MSD among industrial workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A follow-up study was conducted among all the workers at eight aluminium plants in Norway. A questionnaire was completed by 5654 workers at baseline in 1998. A total of 3320 of these participated in the follow-up study in 2000. Cox regression analysis was applied to investigate the relative impact of MSD in various parts of the body and of psychosocial and individual factors reported in 1998 on short-term and long-term sickness absence from MSD reported in 2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MSD accounted for 45% of all working days lost the year prior to follow-up in 2000. Blue-collar workers had significantly higher risk than white-collar workers for both short- and long-term sickness absence from MSD (long-term sickness absence: RR = 3.04, 95% CI 2.08-4.45). Widespread and low back pain in 1998 significantly predicted both short- and long-term sickness absence in 2000. In addition, shoulder pain predicted long-term sickness absence. Low social support predicted short-term sickness absence (RR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.11-1.49).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing sickness absence from MSD among industrial workers requires focusing on the working conditions of blue-collar workers and risk factors for low back pain and widespread pain. Increasing social support in the work environment may have effects in reducing short-term sickness absence from MSD.
authors.affiliation: Section for Occupational Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. tone.morken@isf.uib.no
authors.forename: Tone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morken
authors.forename: Trond
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riise
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moen
authors.forename: Signe H V
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.forename: Solrun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holien
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langedrag
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Inger Lise L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Saue
authors.forename: Guri M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Seljebø
authors.forename: Varughese
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thoppil
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013315:Stress, Psychological