Work-related risk factors for the incidence and recurrence of shoulder and neck complaints among nursing-home and elderly-care workers.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the differences and similarities in the incidence and recurrence of shoulder and neck complaints with respect to work-related physical, psychosocial, and personal risk factors.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study was carried out among 769 workers of nursing homes and homes for the elderly. At baseline, a questionnaire was used to collect data on personal characteristics, physical workload, psychosocial workload, and the presence of shoulder and neck complaints. After 1 and 2 years, follow-up data were collected on shoulder and neck complaints. Generalized estimation equations were used for analyzing risk factors for the participants with at least one follow-up measurement available (N=556, 72%).


RESULTS
In the multivariate model, adjusted for age and gender, obesity [odds ratio (OR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.23-3.65] was related to the incidence of shoulder complaints. The incidence of neck complaints was increased for obesity (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07-3.05), work in awkward postures (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.11-2.78), and poor or fair general health (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.02-2.31). The recurrence of both shoulder and neck complaints was associated with chronic complaints at baseline (shoulder: OR 1.91, 95% 1.36-2.67; neck: OR 1.71, 95% 1.14-2.55) but not with work-related risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that there are differences in risk factors for the incidence and recurrence of shoulder and neck complaints.
Luime
Jolanda J
JJ
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.luime@erasmusmc.nl
Kuiper
Judith I
JI
Koes
Bart W
BW
Verhaar
Jan A N
JA
Miedema
Harald S
HS
Burdorf
Alex
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires