Serranheira F, Sousa-Uva M, Heranz F, Kovacs F, Sousa-Uva A
CISP - Public Health Research Center, NOVA National School of Public Health, Lisbon, Portugal.
Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Lisbon, Portugal.
Work. 2020;65(2):463-469. doi: 10.3233/WOR-203073.
Occupational physical demands are commonly assumed the cause of work-related Low Back Pain (LBP) and absenteeism.
To analyse relationships between LBP at work, physical demands and absenteeism.
Workers filled out a questionnaire on socio-demographic and work-related factors, general health, LBP (number of episodes in a 12-month period, pain severity and intensity), and occupational hazards related with physical demands.
735 workers completed the questionnaire (male n = 359). A high proportion of workers n = 507 (69%), from different occupational backgrounds, reported at least one LBP episode in the previous 12-month period. The highest ratio of subjects with more than 6 episodes of LBP per year was found among public services employees (31.8%) and the lowest ratio among administrative workers (10.3%). The highest ratio of workers (39%) were classified as sedentary workers, 34% of workers having a low or moderate level of physical demands in their work, and 27% reported high levels of physical demands in their work. There was a 4 % absenteeism rate in a 12-month period, which was significantly higher in the group with physically demanding work. Those subjects with higher physical requirements at work have increased odds of having more than 3 episodes of LBP during the previous year (p < 0.05) in comparison with subjects with more sedentary jobs and those with low or moderate physical demands. High intensity work, compared to sedentary work, is associated with an increased probability of being absent of work because of LBP in a previous 12-month period (OR = 3.12; CI 1.23-7.89; p = 0.016).
Our findings suggest there is an association between highly physically demanding jobs, LBP and absenteeism. These results may contribute to the improvement of LBP assessment and prevention programs in Occupational Health Services.
职业身体需求通常被认为是与工作相关的腰痛（LBP）和旷工的原因。
分析工作中的腰痛、身体需求和旷工之间的关系。
工人填写了一份关于社会人口统计学和工作相关因素、一般健康状况、腰痛（12个月期间的发作次数、疼痛严重程度和强度）以及与身体需求相关的职业危害的问卷。
735名工人完成了问卷（男性n = 359）。来自不同职业背景的507名工人（69%）报告在过去12个月期间至少有一次腰痛发作。每年腰痛发作超过6次的受试者比例在公共服务员工中最高（31.8%），在行政人员中最低（10.3%）。最高比例的工人（39%）被归类为久坐不动的工人，34%的工人在工作中的身体需求水平低或中等，27%的工人报告工作中的身体需求水平高。12个月期间的旷工率为4%，在身体需求高的工作群体中显著更高。与久坐工作和身体需求低或中等的受试者相比，那些工作中身体需求较高的受试者在前一年有超过3次腰痛发作的几率增加（p < 0.05）。与久坐工作相比，高强度工作在前12个月期间因腰痛缺勤的可能性增加（OR = 3.12；CI 1.23 - 7.89；p = 0.016）。
我们的研究结果表明，身体需求高的工作、腰痛和旷工之间存在关联。这些结果可能有助于改善职业健康服务中的腰痛评估和预防计划。
