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Influence of occupation on lumbar spine degeneration in men: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2013

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Abstract

Purpose

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.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

OR:

Odds ratio

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Funding

This work was supported by the Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Seoul, Korea (2013–303).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. 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 Yang, Won Kim, Kyoung Hyo Choi & You Gyung Yi

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    1. Seoyon Yang
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    2. Won Kim
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    3. Kyoung Hyo Choi
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    4. You Gyung Yi
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    Correspondence to Won Kim or Kyoung Hyo Choi.

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    Won Kim and Kyoung Hyo Choi have contributed equally to this study.

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    Yang, S., Kim, W., Choi, K.H. et al. Influence of occupation on lumbar spine degeneration in men: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2013. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 89, 1321–1328 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-016-1166-y

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-016-1166-y

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