Factory and construction work is associated with an increased risk of severe lumbar spinal stenosis on MRI: A case control analysis within the wakayama spine study

Abstract

Background To explore the association of MRI‐diagnosed severe lumbar spinal stenosis with occupation. Methods Occupational data were collected by questionnaire and all participants underwent spine MRI scans using the same protocol. Central lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) was graded qualitatively. Those with severe LSS (>two‐thirds narrowing) were compared with the controls with lesser degrees of stenosis or no stenosis. Results Data were available for 722 subjects, mean age 70.1 years. 239 (33%) cases with severe LSS were identified. Factory/construction workers had an almost four‐fold increased risk of severe LSS after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, and walking speed amongst those aged <75 years (OR 3.97, 95%CI 1.46‐10.85). Severe LSS was also associated with squatting ≥1 h/day (OR 1.76, 95%CI 1.01‐3.07) but this association became non‐significant after adjustment. Conclusion Further research is needed but this study adds more evidence that occupational factors are associated with an increased risk and/or severity of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine.

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ORCID for Cyrus Cooper: orcid.org/0000-0003-3510-0709

ORCID for Karen Walker-Bone: orcid.org/0000-0002-5992-1459

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