Prevalence and Risk Factors of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Diseases among Farmers in Gyeongnam

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of upper extremity musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) among Korean farmers. Methods. The study was carried out from June 2013 to August 2015 on 850 farmers and 203 non-farmers (controls) in Gyeongnam Province. Physical examinations were performed by rheumatologists, orthopedists, and rehabilitation specialists. Plain radiography, a nerve conduction examination, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used to assess upper extremity function. Results. Thirty-four different types of upper extremity MSDs were detected in the 1,053 study subjects. The prevalence of any MSD in farmers was 8.96-fold higher than in control (p＜0.001). The most obvious difference in prevalence between farmers and non-farmers was hand osteoarthritis (48.2% vs. 4.9%). Mean total DASH score was higher for farmers than non-farmers (14.29±13.66 vs. 10.03±10.85, p＜0.001). Among farmers, myofascial pain syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and epicondylitis were more prevalent among overhead workers (growing persimmons, pears, and grapes) than in non-overhead workers (growing rice and upland crops). The following factors were associated with a rotator cuff tear; older age, overhead work, high waist circumference, and lower level of education. Hand osteoarthritis was found to be associated with older age, a female gender, high waist circumference, and longer total work time. Conclusion. The prevalence of upper extremity MSDs is much higher in farmers than non-farmers and greater still for farmers doing overhead work. Various factors contribute to the occurrence of upper extremity MSDs, and thus, the authors suggest an efficient preventive strategy, which involves consideration of type of work and risk factors, be established for farmers to reduce upper extremity MSDs. (J Rheum Dis 2015;22:366-373)

Prevalence of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Diseases and Disability among Fruit Tree Farmers in Korea: Cross-Sectional Study

“…The mean score of disability in fruit tree farmers was 14.58±14.01 in this study, while it was 10.03±10.85 in the non-farmer group in the Namgaram study7 and 12.5±10.8 in dairy farmers 4. In addition, poorer disability was associated with a larger number of upper MSK diseases and a history of injuries of the arms and shoulders in this study, which is consistent with a previous study 79. Despite poor disability and a high prevalence of upper extremity MSK diseases in our study, many fruit free farmers (59.2%) worked eight hours or more per day; some farmers worked for up to 15 hours per day.…”

“…The study took place from March 2013 to December 2015. In the results of the interim Namgaram study, the prevalences of upper extremity diseases, such as rotator cuff tear, hand osteoarthritis, lateral epicondylitis, and medial epicondylitis, ranged from 21.5% to 61.9% among overhead working farmers, while non-overhead working farmers showed prevalences of 11.0% to 54.1% for the same diseases 7…”

Association between job-related stress and experience of presenteeism among Korean workers stratified on the presence of depression

“…The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18.60% in this study. A previous study that used PHQ-2 for investigating depression among Korean farmers reported a prevalence rate of 12.5% for depression [44]. Another study that used the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression to report depression among immigrant workers in Korea reported a 47.3% prevalence rate in the higher job-demand group and 32.0% in the “normal job-demand” group [45].…”