TABLE 4—
Summary of Individual Participant Data Odds Ratio Modification Analyses for Algorithmic Translation of Mechanical Exposure of Study-Level Variables in Studies of Mechanical Workplace Risk Factors and Low Back Pain
| LBP in the Past 6 Months to 2 Years |
Current LBP |
Sick Leave Attributable to LBP |
||||||||||||||
| Variables | Posture 1A | Posture 1B | Posture 1C | Posture 2A | Posture 2B | Posture 2Ca | Force 1Ca | Force 2C | Posture 2A | Posture 2B | Posture 2Cab | Posture 2Aab | Posture 2B | Posture 2C | Force 1C | Force 2C |
| Studies, no.c | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Study design, OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Cross-sectional | 1.13 | 1.90d | 1.65d | 2.09 | 1.19 | |||||||||||
| Cohort | 1.25 | 1.44d | 1.27d | 0.96 | 2.74 | |||||||||||
| Study design,e OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Cross-sectional | 1.27 | 1.90d | 1.65d | 2.09 | 1.19 | |||||||||||
| Cohort | 1.14 | 1.33d | 1.17d | 0.69 | 2.76 | |||||||||||
| Participation rate > 80%,OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Not reported | 1.43d | 1.18 | 1.15 | 2.74 | ||||||||||||
| Reported | 1.89d | 1.49 | 2.08 | 1.19 | ||||||||||||
| Exposure reliability, OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Not reported | 1.13 | 1.30 | 1.57d | 1.66 | 3.20 | 2.42 | ||||||||||
| Reported | 1.25 | 1.94 | 1.10d | 2.77 | 1.13 | 1.94 | ||||||||||
| Outcome reliability, OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Not reported | 0.99 | 3.20 | 1.95 | |||||||||||||
| Reported | 1.57 | 1.13 | 2.15 | |||||||||||||
| Dose–response analysis,OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Not reported | 2.25 | |||||||||||||||
| Reported | 1.80 | |||||||||||||||
| Exposure type, OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Observation-based | 0.98 | 1.01d | 1.07d | 0.96 | 1.80 | |||||||||||
| Self-report | 1.50 | 1.82d | 1.59d | 2.09 | 2.25 | |||||||||||
| Population type, OR | ||||||||||||||||
| Workplace-based | 1.30 | 1.43d | 1.24d | 1.26 | ||||||||||||
| Population-based | 1.63 | 1.94d | 1.70d | 2.14 | ||||||||||||
Note. LBP = low back pain; OR = odds ratio. Posture 1 = trunk flexion; posture 2 = nonneutral posture; force 1 = lifting; force 2 = heavy lifting; “A” exposures represent the percentage of a workday spent in a nonneutral posture or exerting a force; “B” exposures represent the percentage of job tasks requiring a nonneutral posture or exerting a force; “C” exposures represent ever experiencing a nonneutral posture or exerting a force.
The outcome–exposure combinations with heterogeneity indicated in aggregate data analysis.
Meta-regression not done because the number of studies was < 10.
Analyses include all studies of the variable of interest. The total number of studies included in each analysis may vary.
Variable also identified as an odds ratio modifier in meta-regression.
Includes only incident cases for cohort studies.