title: Occupational and genetic risk factors for osteoarthritis: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease with strong genetic and occupational components. Although published studies have described several risk factors for OA, very few studies have investigated the occupational and genetic factors that contribute to this debilitating condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe occupational and genetic factors that may contribute to the risk of developing (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the search terms osteoarthritis, occupation, work, and genetics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heavy physical work load was the most common occupational risk factor for OA in several anatomical locations. Other factors include kneeling and regular stair climbing, crawling, bending and whole body vibration, and repetitive movements. Numerous studies have also shown the influence of genetic variability in the pathogenesis of OA. Genetic variants of several groups of genes e.g., cartilage extracellular matrix structural genes and the genes related to bone density have been implicated in disease pathogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review shows that occupational factors were extensively studied in knee OA unlike OA of other anatomical regions. Although genetic association studies performed to date identified a number of risk variants, some of these associations have not been consistently replicated across different studies and populations. Therefore, more research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Molecular Biology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Berran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yucesoy
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Luenda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Molecular Biology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Cecil M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Burchfiel
mesh_terms: D000068617:Genetic Background; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Joint disorders; genetics; joint pain; occupation; workers