Predictors of chronic shoulder pain after 5 years in a working population

Abstract

Summary 

Psychological work-related factors, i.e., decision control, particularly the subject’s perception of their work as monotonous, was a more important predictor of chronic shoulder pain than job demand over a 5-year follow-up.

The role of psychosocial and physical factors in the development of shoulder pain has now been clearly demonstrated. However, only a few studies have analyzed these associations over time. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of work-related psychological and mechanical factors on chronic shoulder pain. A total of 12,714 subjects (65% men) born in 1938, 1943, 1948, and 1953 participating in a French prospective longitudinal epidemiological investigation in 1990 to 1995 Enquête Santé Travail Et Vieillissement (ESTEV) were included. Clinical examination was performed by 400 trained occupational physicians. Personal factors and work exposure were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. Statistical associations between chronic shoulder pain and personal and occupational factors were analyzed using logistic regression modeling. A total of 1706 subjects experienced chronic shoulder pain in 1990, and 2089 experienced chronic shoulder pain in 1995. The incidence of chronic shoulder pain in 1995 was 11% (n = 1355). Forceful effort (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24 95% CI [1.05–1.44], awkward posture (OR = 1.34 95% CI [1.19–1.52]), decision latitude (OR = 1.19 [1.04 to 1.35]), and psychological demand (OR = 1.19 95% CI [1.06–1.32]) in 1990 were significantly associated with chronic shoulder pain in 1995, even after adjustment for personal factors and previous shoulder pain status. Awkward posture (OR = 1.43 [1.25 to 1.63]), psychological demand (OR = 1.24 [1.09 to 1.40]), and decision latitude (OR = 1.21 [1.04 to 1.41] work-related factors in 1990 were associated with the development of chronic shoulder pain between 1990 and 1995. These results suggest that awkward posture, forceful effort, job demand, and decision control are predictors of chronic shoulder pain at work. Interventions designed to reduce the incidence of chronic shoulder pain must include both mechanical and psychological factors.