Abstract

PALOMINO BALDEON, Juan Carlos et al. Work shift as a risk factor for lumbalgia in a group of Peruvian workers. Rev Med Hered [online]. 2005, vol.16, n.3, pp.184-189. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To identify the association among shift work and low back pain in a group of mining workers. Material and Methods: A Case-Control Study was carried out in 2003 in mine´s workers from Perú. Workers with a diagnosis of low back pain were identified; factors analized include age, sex, marital status, education level, shift work (8 hours), length of employment at the company, Body Mass Index (BMI) and work place which was categorized as "white collar "(office work) and " blue collar " (non-office work). The Odds Ratio were evaluated for work shift and working place versus low back pain. Results: Population was 1 240 workers. 149(72%) had a diagnosis of low back pain without sciatica and 56(28%) with sciatica. No statistically significant differences were found in the demographic variables described between groups of study, which makes it possible to compare the populations in study. On the other hand, regarding shift work, an OR of 1.28 (CI of 0.89 - 1.82) for low back pain without sciatica was found and an OR of 2.12 (CI 1.4-3.93) for low back pain with sciatica was found. Regarding work place, blue collar work was found to have an OR of 1.63 (CI 1.05-2.51) for low back pain without sciatica and an OR of 1.48 (CI 0.76-2.9) for low back pain with sciatica was found. Conclusion: There is an increased risk for low back pain with sciatica in workers engaging in shift work and an increased risk for low back pain without sciatica in workers working in blue collar positions.(Rev Med Hered 2005;16:184-189).

Keywords : Low back pain ; shift work; blue collar.

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