Table 2.
Fully adjusted associations of physically demanding work factors with sickness absence trajectories (N = 3814). Odds ratios (OR) from multinomial regression analyses with the low sickness absence trajectory as reference.
| Physically Demanding Work Factors | All | Low | Slowly Increasing | High | Full Model * | Full Model * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trajectory Slowly Increasing vs. Low | Trajectory High vs. Low | |||||||
| Reference = 1 | N | N | N | N | OR α | 95% CI β | OR α | 95% CI β |
| Physical exposure in years | ||||||||
| Prolonged sitting | ||||||||
| 0 | 2411 | 1240 | 858 | 313 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 876 | 566 | 247 | 63 | 0.66 | 0.55−0.80 | 0.48 | 0.36−0.66 |
| >15 | 527 | 277 | 182 | 68 | 0.86 | 0.69−1.07 | 0.86 | 0.62−1.18 |
| Prolonged keyboard use | ||||||||
| 0 | 2766 | 1469 | 951 | 346 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 674 | 416 | 205 | 53 | 0.78 | 0.64−0.95 | 0.55 | 0.40−0.77 |
| >15 | 374 | 198 | 131 | 45 | 0.91 | 0.71−1.17 | 0.81 | 0.56−1.18 |
| Prolonged standing or walking | ||||||||
| 0 | 2102 | 1249 | 664 | 189 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 1009 | 507 | 363 | 139 | 1.42 | 1.19−1.68 | 1.87 | 1.44−2.42 |
| >15 | 703 | 327 | 260 | 116 | 1.42 | 1.16−1.73 | 2.09 | 1.58−2.78 |
| Repetitive arm movement | ||||||||
| 0 | 2232 | 1267 | 750 | 215 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 925 | 507 | 304 | 114 | 1.02 | 0.86−1.22 | 1.26 | 0.96−1.64 |
| >15 | 657 | 309 | 233 | 115 | 1.18 | 0.96−1.44 | 1.87 | 1.41−2.48 |
| Arms above shoulder level | ||||||||
| 0 | 3095 | 1726 | 1035 | 334 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 380 | 187 | 137 | 56 | 1.22 | 0.96−1.55 | 1.45 | 1.03−2.05 |
| >15 | 339 | 170 | 115 | 54 | 0.99 | 0.76−1.28 | 1.26 | 0.88−1.81 |
| Bent postures | ||||||||
| 0 | 2764 | 1569 | 921 | 274 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 571 | 288 | 194 | 89 | 1.15 | 0.94−1.41 | 1.70 | 1.29−2.27 |
| >15 | 479 | 226 | 172 | 81 | 1.18 | 0.94−1.48 | 1.70 | 1.25−2.32 |
| Squatting or kneeling | ||||||||
| 0 | 2991 | 1696 | 975 | 320 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 448 | 214 | 169 | 65 | 1.46 | 1.16−1.82 | 1.71 | 1.23−2.37 |
| >15 | 375 | 173 | 143 | 59 | 1.39 | 1.09−1.78 | 1.72 | 1.22−2.44 |
| Using a vibrating tool | ||||||||
| 0 | 3553 | 1943 | 1209 | 401 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 122 | 68 | 37 | 17 | 0.97 | 0.64−1.48 | 1.50 | 0.83-2.69 |
| >15 | 139 | 72 | 41 | 26 | 0.93 | 0.62−1.40 | 2.06 | 1.23−3.45 |
| Work, that requires high hand grip force | ||||||||
| 0 | 3007 | 1696 | 994 | 317 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 247 | 116 | 93 | 38 | 1.37 | 1.08−1.73 | 1.69 | 1.20−2.39 |
| >15 | 560 | 271 | 200 | 89 | 1.27 | 1.00−1.63 | 1.82 | 1.30−2.54 |
| Frequent handling of loads at least 5 kg | ||||||||
| 0 | 3267 | 1826 | 1094 | 347 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 305 | 143 | 113 | 49 | 1.35 | 1.03–1.76 | 1.86 | 1.28−2.69 |
| >15 | 242 | 114 | 80 | 48 | 1.14 | 0.84−1.55 | 2.05 | 1.38−3.03 |
| Handling of loads of at least 20 kg | ||||||||
| 0 | 3202 | 1796 | 1054 | 352 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 332 | 157 | 128 | 47 | 1.53 | 1.18−1.97 | 1.73 | 1.19−2.51 |
| >15 | 280 | 130 | 105 | 45 | 1.36 | 1.03−1.80 | 1.65 | 1.11−2.44 |
| Strenuous physical work overall | ||||||||
| 0 | 2816 | 1609 | 925 | 282 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1−15 | 542 | 259 | 200 | 83 | 1.40 | 1.14−1.73 | 1.85 | 1.37−2.49 |
| >15 | 456 | 215 | 162 | 79 | 1.26 | 1.01−1.59 | 1.82 | 1.32−2.51 |
α Odds ratio, β 95 % Confidence interval, * ORs adjusted for age (continuous), gender, basic education, marital status, BMI, smoking, leisure time physical activity, alcohol dependence, job strain, social support at work, sleep problems, musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, and any other diseases.