Eléonore Herquelot1, Julie Bodin2, Audrey Petit2, Catherine Ha3, Annette Leclerc4, Marcel Goldberg4, Marie Zins4, Yves Roquelaure2, Alexis Descatha5. 1. 1.Population-based Epidemiologic Cohorts Unit, Inserm, UMS 011, F-94807 Villejuif, France 2.Versailles St-Quentin University, UMS 011, F-94807 Villejuif, France eleonore.herquelot@inserm.fr. 2. 3.Laboratoire d'ergonomie et d'épidémiologie en santé au travail (LEEST), LUNAM Université, Université d'Angers, F-49000 Angers, France. 3. 4.Département santé travail, Institut de veille sanitaire (InVS), F-94410 Saint-Maurice, France. 4. 1.Population-based Epidemiologic Cohorts Unit, Inserm, UMS 011, F-94807 Villejuif, France 2.Versailles St-Quentin University, UMS 011, F-94807 Villejuif, France. 5. 1.Population-based Epidemiologic Cohorts Unit, Inserm, UMS 011, F-94807 Villejuif, France 2.Versailles St-Quentin University, UMS 011, F-94807 Villejuif, France 5.AP-HP, Occupational Health Unit, Poincaré University Hospital, F-92380 Garches, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of chronic and other knee pain (KP) in relation to occupational and personal risk factors among workers representative of a general working population. METHODS: Of 3710 workers in a French region included in a surveillance network for musculoskeletal disorders (2002-2005), 2332 completed a follow-up questionnaire in 2007-2009 (Cosali cohort). The questionnaires included questions on musculoskeletal symptoms, and personal and occupational exposure. Incident cases of KP in 2007-2009 (i.e. with KP at follow-up but not at baseline) were dichotomized into chronic KP (>30 days in the previous year) and other KP. Associations between incident KP and personal and occupational factors at baseline were studied separately according to sex using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 1616 respondents without KP at baseline, 122 (7.5%) reported chronic KP and 243 (15.0%) reported other KP. The incidence rate of chronic KP was estimated at 19.6 per 1000 worker-years (95% CI: 16.3-23.5). After adjustment for age and body mass index, significant associations were found between incident chronic KP and handling loads >4kg [odds ratio (OR) 2.1 (1.2-3.6) for men, OR 2.3 (1.1-5.0) for women] and kneeling >2h a day for men [OR 1.8 (1.0-3.0)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the high frequency of chronic KP in the working population and the role of occupational factors in its incidence, in particular those kneeling and handling loads.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of chronic and other knee pain (KP) in relation to occupational and personal risk factors among workers representative of a general working population. METHODS: Of 3710 workers in a French region included in a surveillance network for musculoskeletal disorders (2002-2005), 2332 completed a follow-up questionnaire in 2007-2009 (Cosali cohort). The questionnaires included questions on musculoskeletal symptoms, and personal and occupational exposure. Incident cases of KP in 2007-2009 (i.e. with KP at follow-up but not at baseline) were dichotomized into chronic KP (>30 days in the previous year) and other KP. Associations between incident KP and personal and occupational factors at baseline were studied separately according to sex using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 1616 respondents without KP at baseline, 122 (7.5%) reported chronic KP and 243 (15.0%) reported other KP. The incidence rate of chronic KP was estimated at 19.6 per 1000 worker-years (95% CI: 16.3-23.5). After adjustment for age and body mass index, significant associations were found between incident chronic KP and handling loads >4kg [odds ratio (OR) 2.1 (1.2-3.6) for men, OR 2.3 (1.1-5.0) for women] and kneeling >2h a day for men [OR 1.8 (1.0-3.0)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the high frequency of chronic KP in the working population and the role of occupational factors in its incidence, in particular those kneeling and handling loads.