title: Medial epicondylitis in occupational settings: prevalence, incidence and associated risk factors.
abstract: Because medial epicondylitis has not been studied alone, we investigated its links between personal and occupational factors in repetitive work and its course. A total of 1757 workers were examined by an occupational health physician in 1993-1994. Five hundred ninety-eight of them were reexamined 3 years later. Prevalence was between 4% and 5%, with an annual incidence estimate at 1.5%. Forceful work was a risk factor (odds ratio [OR], 1.95; confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-3.32), but not exposure to repetitive work (OR, 1.11; CI = 0.59-2.10). Workers with medial epicondylitis had a significantly higher prevalence of other work-related upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD). Risk factors differed for medial and lateral epicondylitis. The prognosis for medial epicondylitis in this population was good with a 3-year recovery rate at 81%. Medial epicondylitis was clearly associated with forceful work and other upper-limb WRMD, and its prognosis was good.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology