Premium
Risk factors for back pain among male farmers: Analysis of Iowa Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Study
Author(s) -
Park Hyesook,
Sprince Nancy L.,
Whitten Paul S.,
Burmeister Leon F.,
Zwerling Craig
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.10025
Subject(s) - medicine , back pain , low back pain , logistic regression , population , physical therapy , environmental health , risk factor , demography , alternative medicine , pathology , sociology
Background Back pain causes considerable morbidity, disability, and economic loss among workers. Farmers handle heavy objects, often in awkward postures. However, the prevalence of back pain among farmers and the risk factors associated with back pain are not well known. Methods In this study, we assess the frequency of risk factors for back pain among 287 Iowa male farmers. From 1992 to 1994, using a mail questionnaire, we collected data on potential risk factors for back pain. Eighteen months later, we surveyed occurrence of back pain as the outcome measure. Results Thirty‐one percent of farmers reported having daily back pain for a week or more during the past 12 months compared to 18.5% in the general working population. Using a multiple logistic regression model, we found two factors associated with back pain: 45–59 years of age (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.02–4.43) and having a non‐agricultural job as the major occupation (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 0.98–4.17, P = 0.055). Conclusions Farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of back pain than the general working population. Middle‐aged farmers and those with additional non‐agricultural jobs had the highest risk for back pain. Am. J. Ind. Med. 40:646–654, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc