Rate ratios (RR) of absences of 3 days or longer due to low back pain according to work related physical factors
| Risk factor | Absences (n) | Workers* (n) | Crude RR (95% CI†)‡ (n=635) | Adjusted RR (95% CI)§ (n=635) | Workers employed ≤5 years in the current job at baseline, adjusted RR (95% CI)§ (n=265) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *For 702 of the 732 workers with data on the reasons for all absences of 3 days or longer, data were available on the work related physical factors presented in this table; †95% CI=95% confidence interval; ‡crude rate ratio from Poisson regression in the population with no missing values for sex, age, smoking, body mass index, exercise behaviour during leisure time, coping skills (active problem solving, avoidance behaviour, social support seeking), quantitative job demands, conflicting demands, decision authority, skill discretion, supervisor support, coworker support, job security, job satisfaction, moving of heavy loads during leisure time, flexion or rotation of the upper part of the body during leisure time, driving a vehicle during leisure time and driving a vehicle at work; § rate ratio from Poisson regression, adjusted for the risk factors mentioned. | |||||
| Percentage of the working time with trunk flexed ≥30°: | |||||
| ≤5 | 75 | 441 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 5–10 | 32 | 116 | 1.75 (1.12 to 2.67) | 1.36 (0.83 to 2.21) | 0.90 (0.39 to 1.97) |
| 10–15 | 32 | 67 | 2.83 (1.81 to 4.32) | 2.03 (1.19 to 3.40) | 3.01 (1.23 to 7.27) |
| 15–20 | 24 | 35 | 4.02 (2.40 to 6.45) | 3.24 (1.80 to 5.69) | 9.16 (2.44 to 33.0) |
| >20 | 21 | 43 | 3.01 (1.80 to 4.84) | 2.33 (1.32 to 3.97) | 1.69 (0.46 to 5.42) |
| Percentage of the working time with trunk flexed: | |||||
| ≤5 ≥30° | 75 | 441 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 5–10 ≥30° | 32 | 116 | 1.75 (1.12 to 2.67) | 1.37 (0.83 to 2.21) | 0.93 (0.40 to 2.05) |
| >10 ≥30° and ≤5 ≥60° | 48 | 97 | 2.91 (1.97 to 4.25) | 2.27 (1.45 to 3.52) | 3.15 (1.33 to 7.41) |
| >5 ≥60° | 29 | 48 | 3.65 (2.31 to 5.62) | 2.65 (1.59 to 4.32) | 3.59 (1.36 to 9.27) |
| Percentage of the working time with trunk rotated ≥30°: | |||||
| ≤5 | 106 | 544 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 5–10 | 69 | 125 | 2.90 (2.11 to 3.97) | 2.12 (1.45 to 3.07) | 2.78 (1.36 to 5.67) |
| >10 | 9 | 33 | 1.65 (0.78 to 3.10) | 1.10 (0.49 to 2.21) | 0.33 (0.02 to 2.02) |
| Number of lifts/8 hour working day: | |||||
| Never | 32 | 251 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Never ≥10 kg/working day | 27 | 112 | 2.31 (1.35 to 3.92) | 2.47 (1.42 to 4.29) | 3.10 (1.13 to 8.80) |
| Never ≥25 kg/working day | 65 | 208 | 2.76 (1.78 to 4.39) | 2.32 (1.41 to 3.89) | 2.46 (1.02 to 6.48) |
| 1–15 ≥25 kg/working day | 37 | 82 | 3.60 (2.18 to 5.99) | 2.27 (1.25 to 4.14) | 2.06 (0.69 to 6.30) |
| >15 ≥25 kg/working day | 23 | 49 | 3.81 (2.14 to 6.68) | 2.18 (1.07 to 4.37) | 2.77 (0.81 to 9.56) |