[Occupations associated with a high risk of back pain: representative outcomes of a back pain prevalence study in the Federal Republic of Germany].
BACKGROUND
Given the increasing medical and economic implications of back pain, occupation-specific prevalence data may provide important pointers for delivering medical opinions.


METHODS
The National German Health Survey is the first study to provide the basis for a representative nationwide analysis of back pain prevalence by occupational category. The net sample comprises a total of 3,488 earners aged 18 to 69.


RESULTS
One in three earners in the Federal Republic of Germany (34%) experienced back pain during the seven days prior to being interviewed. The one-year prevalence rate is 60%. Occupational categories associated with a lower than average back pain prevalence are highly qualified professionals, senior management, and production occupations associated with a comparatively low degree of manual labour. In contrast, an above-average prevalence was identified for occupations associated with physically strenuous work involving one-sided postures, moving, carrying and holding heavy weights, and work typically performed in poor conditions or bad weather.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrates significant inter-occupational differences in terms of exposure to back pain. The results underline the importance of measures to promote preventive behaviour and improve the working conditions of those in low-skill manual labour occupations.
Schneider
S
S
Sektion Schmerztherapie, Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg.
Schiltenwolf
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004651:Employment / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors