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Risk factors for sciatica leading to hospitalization

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Abstract

Purpose

To study the known or suspected risk factors for sciatica: Tallness, overweight, smoking, leisure-time physical exercise, self-reported health and occupation, and how they predict hospitalizations due to sciatica. Only a few cohort studies have previously focused on the risk factors for sciatica.

Methods

The 13,095 subjects, free from low back disorders at the baseline in 1973–1976 were followed up to the end of 2011 via the Care Register for Health Care. Along with an invitation to the health examination, a basic questionnaire concerning lifestyle factors was sent to participants. The outcome measure was incident sciatica leading to hospitalization.

Results

Altogether 702 incident sciatica cases occurred. Among men, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was 2.57 (95% CI 1.47–4.50) in metal or machine work, and 1.44 (1.06–1.95) in other industrial work, compared to that in white-collar occupations. Among women, the corresponding risk estimates were 1.81 (1.18–2.78) for nurses and related occupations, 1.56 (1.05–2.31) for sales workers, and 1.46 (1.03–2.08) for industrial workers. Among men, physical exercise during leisure predicted a decrease in the risk of sciatica (0.74; 0.55–1.00); this association was significantly pronounced in white-collar occupations (0.38; 0.18–0.88). Among women, the association between body mass index and the risk of sciatica was only modest, but varied greatly between different occupations.

Conclusions

Physically demanding work is a strong risk factor for sciatica. Leisure-time physical activity seems to protect men against sciatica, while overweight is a risk factor among women. However, occupation substantially modifies these associations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Ulla Euro

  2. Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Ulla Euro & J. Karppinen

  3. Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Ulla Euro

  4. Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

    P. Knekt, H. Rissanen, A. Aromaa & M. Heliövaara

  5. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Health and Work Ability, Oulu, Finland

    J. Karppinen

  6. Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Ulla Euro

  7. Hyvinkää Hospital, Surgery Department, Hyvinkää, Finland

    Ulla Euro

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  1. Ulla Euro
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Correspondence to Ulla Euro.

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Conflict of interest

Euro U has received Grants from Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Orion Pharmos Foundation, and Medical Research Center Oulu. Karppinen J has received lecture fees from MSD, Pfizer, Orion Pharma Ltd. and has been in scientific advisory board (Axsome Therapeutics Inc.). Knekt P, Rissanen H, Aromaa A, and Heliövaara M. declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Euro, U., Knekt, P., Rissanen, H. et al. Risk factors for sciatica leading to hospitalization. Eur Spine J 27, 1501–1508 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5182-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5182-8

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