Knee osteoarthritis and the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors – Results of a case control study in Germany
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the frequent impairing disorders of the musculoskeletal system. A number of occupational and non-occupational risk factors are discussed as being related to the development and progress of knee joint diseases. The distinction between work-related factors and other factors is crucial in assessing the risk and in deriving preventive measures in occupational health. A case-control-study was carried out to raise valid data about the significance of physical stress associated with occupational and leisure time activities. Patients with and without knee OA were questioned by means of a standardised questionnaire and an interview. 739 cases and 571 controls aged 25 to 75 years matched the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Controls were matched assigned to the cases by age. The evaluation took place separately for men and women. Obesity, kneeling and heredity (knee OA in parents, brothers or sisters) and sports with a risk of trauma were in a significant connection to knee OA in women and men. In women, malalignment of the knee (knock knee or bow legs), pain in the knee already in childhood and daily lifting and carrying of loads were related to an increased, sitting and smoking leaded to a reduced Odds Ratio (OR). Prevention measures should focus on the reduction of obesity and (where possible) kneeling activities and reduction of lifting and carrying of loads. Surprisingly the influence of leisure time activities (like e.g. gardening) seems very small. The factor smoking, measured in package years, exhibited an inverse association to knee OA. This phenomenon has been discussed already several times by authors of other studies. It is assumed that the protective effect may occur because of the high level of stimulation of nicotine for the anabolic activity of the chondrocytes. On this topic further investigations are necessary. Further risks like e.g. jumping or climbing stairs/ladders, discussed in the literature, did not correlate with knee OA in the present study. In total, the results reflect the statements from the literature quite well.
Andre Klussmann Hansjürgen Gebhardt Matthias Nuebling Falk Liebers Lars V. von Engelhardt Bertil Bouillon Monika A. Rieger -
Institute of Occupational Health, Safety and Ergonomics (ASER), Germany Freiburg Research Centre for Occupational and Social Medicine (FFAS), Germany Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Germany Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, HELIOS Hospital, Germany Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Witten/Herdecke,Hospital Cologne Merheim Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Medicine, Institute of General Practice and Fami
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-7
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）