Influence of occupation on lumbar spine degeneration in men: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2013.
OBJECTIVE
Certain lifetime occupations can influence lumbar spine degeneration (LSD). The authors investigated the association between various types of occupations and LSD using a nationwide survey.


METHODS
Data were obtained from the 2010 to 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Types of lifetime occupation were categorized into four occupational groups: white-collar (WC) workers, pink-collar (PC) workers, blue-collar (BC) workers, and agribusiness and low-level (AL) workers. LSD was evaluated using a modified version of the Kellgren-Lawrence grade.


RESULTS
The results showed that the type of occupation was associated with increased risk of LSD. The risk of LSD increased in BC workers (adjusted OR 1.492; 95 % CI 1.13, 1.98) and AL workers (adjusted OR 2.539; 95 % CI 1.75, 3.68). The risk of severe LSD increased in BC workers (adjusted OR 1.734; 95 % CI 0.78, 1.98) and AL workers (adjusted OR 3.058; 95 % CI 1.96, 4.77). The risk of LBP tended to increase in AL workers (adjusted OR 1.380; 95 % CI 1.00, 1.90).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that LSD is influenced by the lifetime occupation: WC workers are least affected by LSD, and AL workers are at greatest risk of LSD.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43 gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
Seoyon
S
Yang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43 gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. duocl79@gmail.com.
Won
W
Kim
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43 gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. kyounghyochoi@gmail.com.
Kyoung Hyo
KH
Choi
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43 gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
You Gyung
YG
Yi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000209:etiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors
Interverbral disk; Intervertebral disk degeneration; Low back pain; Occupations; Pain