Table 4.
Univariate associations between work exposure (low exposure vs. high exposure) and self-reported excellent work ability (i.e., work ability score 10) for workers with pain in upper back and neck
| Physical work demands | Age 16–29 y |
Age 30–49 y |
Age 50–64 y |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | PR (95% CI) | N | PR (95% CI) | N | PR (95% CI) | ||
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Whole body vibrations | Men | 54 | 1.14 (0.76, 1.96) | 211 | 1.30 (0.97, 1.82) | 137 | 1.08 (0.78, 1.55) |
| Women | 168 | 1.05 (0.69, 2.74) | 456 | 1.30 (0.77, 2.80) | 315 | 1.15 (0.53, 4.26) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Handheld vibrating tools | Men | 51 | 1.00 (0.73, 1.55) | 199 | 1.17 (0.95, 1.53) | 143 | 1.77 (1.26, 2.89) |
| Women | 166 | 1.05 (0.70, 2.15) | 488 | 1.07 (0.76, 1.80) | 309 | 1.06 (0.70, 2.23) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Frequent trunk rotations | Men | 22 | 1.12 (0.91, 1.43) | 126 | 1.31 (1.14, 1.54) | 79 | 1.36 (1.13, 1.67) |
| Women | 50 | 1.03 (0.93, 1.16) | 259 | 1.09 (0.99, 1.20) | 160 | 1.15 (1.02, 1.31) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Lifting ≥15 kg | Men | 28 | 1.00 (0.82, 1.29) | 128 | 1.14 (1.00, 1.33) | 108 | 1.71 (1.37, 2.22) |
| Women | 111 | 1.15 (0.98, 1.37) | 347 | 1.06 (0.94, 1.21) | 251 | 1.29 (1.08, 1.58) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Leaning forward without support | Men | 35 | 0.97 (0.78, 1.28) | 178 | 1.36 (1.13, 1.69) | 126 | 1.57 (1.23, 2.12) |
| Women | 116 | 1.16 (0.99, 1.41) | 367 | 1.13 (0.99, 1.31) | 255 | 1.31 (1.09, 1.64) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Twisted work posture | Men | 35 | 0.93 (0.74, 1.23) | 178 | 1.26 (1.05, 1.56) | 116 | 1.30 (1.05, 1.71) |
| Women | 109 | 1.09 (0.94, 1.30) | 372 | 1.13 (0.98, 1.32) | 249 | 1.13 (0.95, 1.38) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Hands at shoulder level or higher | Men | 45 | 0.94 (0.72, 1.33) | 189 | 1.15 (0.94, 1.45) | 131 | 1.45 (1.12, 2.02) |
| Women | 139 | 1.05 (0.86, 1.34) | 405 | 1.13 (0.95, 1.39) | 290 | 1.41 (1.09, 1.99) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Repetitive movements | Men | 33 | 0.97 (0.79, 1.27) | 148 | 1.15 (1.00, 1.35) | 107 | 1.20 (0.99, 1.50) |
| Women | 89 | 0.92 (0.82, 1.06) | 316 | 1.11 (0.99, 1.26) | 210 | 1.15 (1.00, 1.35) | |
| Low exposure to | |||||||
| Seated work | Men | 37 | 1.29 (0.99, 1.81) | 96 | 0.86 (0.77, 0.98) | 47 | 0.55 (0.43, 0.69) |
| Women | 85 | 1.02 (0.90, 1.18) | 178 | 0.87 (0.81, 0.95) | 110 | 0.71 (0.63, 0.81) | |
N, number of workers (reporting physical exposure and work ability score 10). Bold values indicate a statistically significant association.
CI, confidence interval; PR, prevalence ratio.