title: Work-related upper extremity disorders: one-year follow-up in an occupational diseases registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the course and consequences of work-related upper extremity disorders in the registry of the Netherlands Centre for Occupational Diseases (NCvB).
  
  
  METHODS
  A follow-up study was performed in a sample of consecutive cases of work-related upper extremity disorders notified to the NCvB. Perceived severity was measured with VAS (0-100), quality of life with VAS (0-100) and SF-36, functional impairment with DASH and sickness absence with a questionnaire. Measurements took place directly after notification (T0) and after 3, 6 and 12 months (T1-T3). A linear mixed model was used to compare scores over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average age of the 48 consecutive patients (89% response) was 42 years; 48% were men. Perceived severity, functional impairment and sickness absence decreased statistically significant during the follow-up period, and quality of life scores improved. Patients older than 45 years scored worse on perceived severity of the disease, functional impairment and quality of life than did younger patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of registries of occupational diseases for preventive policy can be extended by creating longitudinal data in sample projects. In the sample from our registry, work-related upper extremity disorders had a favourable course.
authors.affiliation: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. d.spreeuwers@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spreeuwers
authors.forename: A G E M
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: J H A M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Verbeek
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Beurden
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: de Wilde
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Braam
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Willemse
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: F J H
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology