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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

The impact of self-reported exposure to whole-body-vibrations on the risk of disability pension among men: a 15 year prospective study

Authors: Finn Tüchsen, Helene Feveile, Karl B Christensen, Niklas Krause

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Whole-body-vibrations are often associated with adverse health effect but the long term effects are less known. This study investigates the association between occupational exposures to whole-body vibrations, and subsequent transition to disability pension.

Methods

A total of 4215 male employees were followed up for subsequent disability pension retirement. Exposure to whole-body-vibration was self-reported while new cases of disability pension were retrieved from a national register.

Results

The hazard ratio (HR) for disability pension retirement among men exposed to whole-body-vibrations was 1.61 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-2.40) after adjustment for age, smoking habits, BMI, physical job demands and awkward work postures. In our model, with the available explanatory variables, 5.6% of the male disability pension cases were attributable to whole-body-vibrations.

Conclusions

Exposure to whole-body-vibrations predicts subsequent disability pension retirement. Continued reduction of whole-body-vibrations may reduce the number of new cases of disability pension.
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Metadata
Title
The impact of self-reported exposure to whole-body-vibrations on the risk of disability pension among men: a 15 year prospective study
Authors
Finn Tüchsen
Helene Feveile
Karl B Christensen
Niklas Krause
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-305

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