Dupuytren's disease: personal factors and occupational exposure.
BACKGROUND
The etiology of Dupuytren's disease is unknown, and the role of occupational exposure is still debated. Our objective was to study the association between occupational exposures, personal risk factors and Dupuytren's disease.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional survey, nine occupational physicians performed clinical examinations, focused on Dupuytren's disease, of 2,406 French male civil servants employed at the Equipment Ministry in 1998 and interviewed them about medical history, leisure manual exposure and occupational biomechanical exposure to vibrations and manual work. A cumulative occupational exposure score was defined, with three levels of exposure.


RESULTS
Dupuytren's disease was diagnosed in 212 men (8.8%). The occupational exposure score was significantly higher in this group of cases than in the rest of the sample (377 (SD280) vs. 223 (SD250), respectively; P < 0.0001). Occupational exposure was associated with Dupuytren's disease (adjusted Odds Ratio = 2.20 [1.39-3.45] for the intermediate and 3.10 [1.99-4.84] for the high exposure groups), with adjustment for age, leisure physical activities, alcohol consumption (> or =5 servings per day), history of diabetes, epilepsy, hand trauma, and familial history of Dupuytren's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Manual work exposure was associated with Dupuytren's disease after adjustment for personal risk factors. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results.
Lucas
Gérard
G
DRTEFP, Pays-de-Loire et Bretagne, France.
Brichet
Anne
A
Roquelaure
Yves
Y
Leclerc
Annette
A
Descatha
Alexis
A
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*