title: Quantitatively measured tremor in hand-arm vibration-exposed workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible increase in hand tremor in relation to hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure in a cohort of exposed and unexposed workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 178 male workers with or without exposure to HAV. The study is cross-sectional regarding the outcome of tremor and has a longitudinal design with respect to exposure. The dose of HAV exposure was collected via questionnaires and measurements at several follow-ups. The CATSYS Tremor Pen(®) was used for measuring postural tremor. Multiple linear regression methods were used to analyze associations between different tremor variables and HAV exposure, along with predictor variables with biological relevance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant associations between the different tremor variables and cumulative HAV or current exposure. Age was a statistically significant predictor of variation in tremor outcomes for three of the four tremor variables, whereas nicotine use was a statistically significant predictor of either left or right hand or both hands for all four tremor variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, there was no evidence of an exposure-response association between HAV exposure and measured postural tremor. Increase in age and nicotine use appeared to be the strongest predictors of tremor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden, maria.edlund@amm.gu.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edlund
authors.forename: Lage
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burström
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagberg
authors.forename: Ronnie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lundström
authors.forename: Tohr
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandén
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wastensson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D053421:Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014202:Tremor; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine