title: Systematic review on risk factors of rotator cuff tears.
abstract: Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) occur commonly, especially among certain groups of individuals. In this meta-analysis, we aim to identify risk factors for RCTs.
  
  
  
  We searched MEDLINE for 210 articles. Seventeen articles were selected for systematic review, of which 10 were eligible for meta-analysis. Data was analysed with Review Manager 5.3, using Mantel-Haenszel statistics and random effect models.
  
  
  
  A total of 6653 individuals were analysed. The odds of sustaining a RCT on the dominant hand was 2.30 times more than the non-dominant hand (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-5.25, Z = 1.99, p = 0.05; Heterogenity: τ2= 0.38, χ2= 8.84, df = 2 ( p = 0.01), I2= 77%). The odds of an individual aged 60 years and above sustaining a RCT was 5.07 times higher than an individual less than 60 years old (95% CI: 2.45-10.51, Z = 4.37, p < 0.001; Heterogenity: τ2= 0.47, χ2= 25.24, df = 3 ( p < 0.001), I2= 88%). Female gender was not a significant association, with an odds ratio of 0.98 when compared to the male gender (95% CI: 0.66-1.45, Z = 0.09, p = 0.93; Heterogenity: τ2= 0.20, χ2= 44.24, df = 5 ( p < 0.001), I2= 89%).
  
  
  
  Hand dominance and older age are associated with RCTs. More studies are required for further assessment of associations and risk factors of RCTs.
authors.affiliation: 1 Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Andrew Arjun
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sayampanathan
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tan Hwee Chye
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Andrew
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: age; gender; hand dominance; risk factors; rotator cuff tears; rotator cuff tendinopathy; shoulder injury