Is working in a cold environment associated with musculoskeletal complaints 7–8 years later? A longitudinal analysis from the Tromsø Study

• Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
• Main Authors: Farbu, Erlend Hoftun, Höper, Anje Christina, Brenn, Tormod, Skandfer, Morten
• Other Authors: Helse Nord RHF, Helse- og Omsorgsdepartementet, Troms County, Universitetet i Tromsø, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2020
• Subjects: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Tromsø
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-020-01606-6; https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00420-020-01606-6.pdf; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00420-020-01606-6/fulltext.html

Abstract Objective Exposure to a cold environment at work is associated with a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and chronic pain in cross-sectional studies. This study aims to determine the association between working in a cold environment ≥ 25% of the time and musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) 7–8 years later. Methods We followed participants from the sixth survey (Tromsø 6, 2007–2008) to the seventh survey (Tromsø 7, 2015–2016) of the Tromsø Study. Analyses included 2347 men and women aged 32–60 years who were not retired and not receiving full-time disability benefits in Tromsø 6. Three different binary outcomes were investigated in Tromsø 7: any MSC, severe MSC, and MSC in ≥ 3 anatomical regions. We excluded participants with severe MSC, MSC in ≥ 3 regions, or missing values in Tromsø 6. The association between working in a cold environment and future MSC were examined using Poisson regression and adjusted for age, sex, number of moderate MSC, education, physical activity at work, smoking status, body mass index, and self-reported health in Tromsø 6. Results 258 participants reported to work in a cold environment ≥ 25% of the time in Tromsø 6. They had an increased risk of having any MSC in Tromsø 7 (incidence rate ratio 1.15; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.29). There was no significantly increased risk of severe MSC or MSC in ≥ 3 regions. Conclusion Working in a cold environment was associated with future MSC, but not with future severe MSC or future MSC in ≥ 3 regions.