Strong association of physical job demands with functional limitations among active people: a population-based study in North-eastern France.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between physical job demands (PJD) and physical/cognitive functional limitations, and the role of adverse health behaviours, obesity, and socio-demographic factors as confounders of those associations.


METHODS
The sample included 3,368 active subjects aged 18-64 years, randomly selected from North-eastern France. Subjects completed a post-mailed questionnaire. PJD score was defined as the product of years of employment with the cumulative number of a wide range of high job demands. Data were analysed through the logistic regression models.


RESULTS
The physical and cognitive functional limitations affected 16.9 and 28.6% of subjects, respectively. A strong relationship was found between PJD and physical functional limitation: significant odds ratios (OR) adjusted for all the factors studied 1.41 for PJD1-29, 1.72 for PJD30-99, and 2.57 for PJD >or=100 versus PJD0; and between PJD and cognitive functional limitation: OR 1.28 for PJD1-29, 1.60 for PJD30-99, and 2.00 for PJD >or=100 versus PJD0. Adverse health behaviours, obesity and job category were modest confounders of those associations.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identified a wide range of job demands and individual characteristics related to physical/cognitive functional limitations. Prevention should aim at improving working conditions and adverse health behaviours.
Chau
N
N
INSERM, U669, Paris, France. Nearkasen.Chau@wanadoo.fr
Khlat
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult