ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2019
Health, work and demographic factors associated with a lower risk of work disability and unemployment in employees with lower back, neck and shoulder pain.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- A meta-analysis of unemployment risk factors for middle-aged workers.Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health · 2025Pooled it
- Sustainable Working Life in a Swedish Twin Cohort-A Definition Paper with Sample Overview.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Associations between social factors and spinal pain-related disability in people with back pain and/or neck pain.Annals of medicine · 2025Article
- Chronic pain-mental health comorbidity and excess prevalence of health risk behaviours: a cross-sectional study.Primary health care research & development · 2024Article
- Psychosocial work characteristics and low back pain in daycare (nursery) workers in Japan: a prospective cohort study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Article
- The morphological characteristics of paraspinal muscles in young patients with unilateral neurological symptoms of lumbar disc herniation.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Article
- Long-term sick leave for back pain, exposure to physical workload and psychosocial factors at work, and risk of disability and early-age retirement among aged Swedish workers.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2022Article
- Sustainable Working Life Patterns in a Swedish Twin Cohort: Age-Related Sequences of Sickness Absence, Disability Pension, Unemployment, and Premature Death during Working Life.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Role of social benefits for future long-term sickness absence, disability pension and unemployment among individuals on sickness absence due to mental diagnoses: a competing risk approach.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2022Article
- Measurement Properties of the Work Ability Score in Sick-Listed Workers with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2022Article
- Effects of workplace upper extremity resistance exercises on function and symptoms of workers at a tertiary hospital: a randomized controlled trial protocol.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Article
- Sick Leave and Costs in Active Workers with Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain in Spain: Outcomes of the OPIOIDS Real World Study.Open access rheumatology : research and reviews · 2022Article
- Fraction and Number of Unemployed Associated with Self-Reported Low Back Pain: A Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Predictors for Clinical Outcomes Related to Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Healthy Working Population.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Association between muscle strength, upper extremity fatigue resistance, work ability and upper extremity dysfunction in a sample of workers at a tertiary hospital.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChronic musculoskeletal pain affects over 20% of the adult population and is one of the most common reasons for sick leave in Sweden. The aim of this study was to investigate which demographic, health and psychosocial work environment factors are of importance for a lower risk of future work disability and unemployment among workers with low back pain (LBP) and/or neck shoulder pain (NSP), and if familial factors influence these associations.
methodsAll 5556 persons that reported having LBP and/or NSP in a web-based questionnaire study in 2004-2006 were included. They were followed up for work disability (sick leave > 90 days or disability pension), and unemployment (> 180 days in a year) until 31 December 2013. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using cox proportional hazard models of the whole sample, adjusting for covariates. In addition, co-twin analyses of outcome discordant twin pairs were conducted to assess the impact of familial confounding on the associations.
resultsBeing male, 19-28 years old, having higher education, only NSP, no history of depression or anxiety, good self-rated health, low job demands and high job control were associated with a lower risk of work disability (adjusted HR ranging between 0.29-0.85). No history of anxiety and depression and high job control was associated with a lower risk of unemployment (adjusted HR ranging from 0.53 and 0.67). Familial factors were found to affect the association between education and work disability, but none of the other associations investigated.
conclusionsAmong those with LBP or NSP, good health in terms of mental- and self-rated health, few pain sites, as well as good psychosocial working conditions seem to indicate a lower risk for work disability.
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Registered trials
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