807 Work-related risk factors for lumbosacral radiculopathy: systematic review and meta-analysis. (24th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: FM Kuijer, PPaul; Verbeek, Jos H; Seidler, Andreas; Ellegast, Rolf; Hulshof, Carel TJ; Frings-Dresen, Monique HW; van der Molen, Henk F
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 75(2018)Supplement 2
• Page Start: A276
• Page End: A276
• Publication Date: 2018-04-24
• Subjects: Low back -- Aetiology -- Hernia; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2018-ICOHabstracts.788
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Clinicians need to know whether lumbosacral radiculopathy (LRS) can be attributed to work. Therefore the association between work-related risk factors and clinically assessed LRS has to be established. Methods: A systematic review was performed using Pubmed and Embase until March 2017. Inclusion criteria were that LRS was diagnosed by a clinician and exposed workers were compared to workers less or not exposed. A quality assessment and a meta-analysis were performed. Result: The search resulted in 7350 references and 24 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 19 studies were rated as having a high risk of bias and five as having a low risk of bias. The median number of LRS participants per study were 209 (IQR 124–504). The meta-analysis revealed significant associations with heavy physically demanding work (OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.5 to 2.8), bending and/or twisting of the trunk (OR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.7 to 3.6), and lifting and carrying in combination with bending and/or twisting of the trunk (OR=2.8, 95% CI: 2.2 to 3.7). Professional driving and sitting were not significantly associated with LRS. Discussion: Evidence is available that LRS can be classified as a work-related disease depending on the level of exposure to bending of the trunk and/or lifting and carrying in physically demanding work. A policy to prevent LRS should focus on work-related risk factors since no other modifiable risk factors are known.