Table 1. Characteristics of studies. [CC=case–control; BJSQ=Brief Job Stress Questionnaire; CUPID=Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability; JCQ=Job Content Questionnaire; MUSIC=Musculoskeletal intervention Center-Norrtälje Study; LBP=low back pain; LDH=lumbar disc herniation; OC=osteochondrosis; S-ERI=short effort-reward imbalance; SL=spondylosis; PE=physical examination; RE=radiological examination; SR=self-reported].
| Reference | Country | Design | Follow-up time | Population a | Age (years) Mean (SD) |
Exposure assessment | Outcome definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aghilinejad 2015 (28) |
Iran | Cohort | >3 months | 185 metal workers (men) | 36 (7.3) | Questionnaire (MUSIC) | SR LBP for >3 months |
| Ahsan 2013 (29) | Bangladesh | CC | NA | 200 cases and 200 controls, mixed workers | 39.5 | Interview | LDH patients attending a spine unit with LBP |
| Esquirol 2017 (30) | France | Cohort | 5 years | 1560 mixed workers | 32, 42, or 52 b |
Questionnaire (using Karasek’s model) | SR LBP >6 months |
| Gold 2017 (31) | US | Cohort | 6 years | 1154 mixed health professionals | 41 (13.1) | Questionnaire (JCQ) | SR LBP for 3 months |
| Halonen 2018 (32) | Sweden | Cohort | 6 years | 1845 mixed workers | 16–64 | Questionnaire (S-ERI) | SR LBP for 3 months |
| Herin 2014 (33) | France | Cohort | 5 years | 5837 mixed workers | 42, 47, 52, or 57 b |
Questionnaire (using Karasek’s model) | PE + SR LBP for >6 months + clinical signs |
| Jansen 2004 (34) |
Netherlands | Cohort | 1 year | 523 mixed workers | 41 (9.7) | Questionnaire (using Karasek’s model) | SR LBP with disability in the past 12 months |
| Jørgensen 2013 (35) | Denmark | Cohort | 32–33 years | 3833 mixed workers | 40-59 | Questionnaire | Hospitalisation due to LDH. |
| Latza 2002 (36) | Germany | Cohort | 3 years | 488 construction workers (men) | 33 (10.0) | Interview | >90 days of SR LBP in the last 12 months |
| Matsudaira 2014 (37) |
Japan | Cohort | 1 year | 3811 mixed workers | 43 (10.1) | Questionnaire (BJSQ) | SR disabling LBP for >3 months |
| Matsudaira 2015 (38) |
Japan | Cohort | 1 year | 3811 mixed workers | 43 (10.1) | Questionnaire (BJSQ) | SR disabling LBP for >3 months |
| Matsudaira 2019 (39) |
Japan | Cohort | 1 year | 198 mixed workers | 36 (9.1) | Questionnaire (CUPID) | SR disabling LBP for >3 months |
| Melloh 2013 (40) | New Zealand | Cohort | 6 months | 168 mixed workers | 36 (13.1) | Questionnaire (JCQ) | SR persistent LBP for 6 months |
| Melloh 2013 (41) | New Zealand | Cohort | 6 months | 169 mixed workers | 36 (13.1) | Questionnaire (JCQ) | SR persistent LBP for 3 months |
| Melloh 2013 (42) | New Zealand | Cohort | >3 months | 195 mixed workers | 36 (13.1) | Questionnaire (JCQ) | SR persistent LBP for 3 months |
| Seidler 2003 (43) | Germany | CC | NA | 225 cases and 107 controls, mixed workers (men) | 44 | Interview | LDH + mod./severe OC or SL, in- or outpatients |
| Seyedmehdi 2016 (44) |
Iran | Cohort | 1 year | 511 workers at rubber factory |
38 (5.8) | Questionnaire (JCQ) | SR LBP >3 months |
| Sihawong 2016 (45) |
Thailand | Cohort | 1 year | 609 office workers | 36 (8.3) | Questionnaire (JCQ) | SR LBP >3 months |
| Sørensen 2011 (46) | Denmark | Cohort | 32–33 years | 3833 mixed workers | 40–59 | Questionnaire | Hospitalisation due to LDH. |
| Tubach 2004 (47) | France | Cohort | 2 years | 475 mixed workers | 35–50 | Questionnaire | Sciatica + visiting physician |
a Number of participants included in the analysis regarding occupational psychosocial exposures and chronic low back pain. b Categorical age and not a mean age.