Ergonomic and individual risk factors for musculoskeletal pain in the ageing workforce.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the possible association between specific ergonomic and individual risk factors and musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in the back, shoulder, hip and knee region in workers aged 50-65y.

Methods: The study was a population based cross-sectional survey. The study population comprised citizens born between 1952-1966, living in Esbjerg municipality, Denmark, ultimo 2016 (n = 23,463).

Workability in the Ageing Workforce-A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of age, musculoskeletal pain and ergonomic exposure on workability in the oldest group of workers.

Methods: The study was a population based cross-sectional survey. The study population comprised citizens born between 1952-1966, living in Esbjerg municipality ultimo 2016 ( = 23,463).

Effect of bariatric surgery on employment status-a 7 years controlled nationwide registry study.

Background: Severe obesity is associated with a reduced ability to work. Bariatric surgery is the most effective method to achieve a sustained weight loss. Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding the effect of bariatric surgery on employment status.

A cross-sectional study of the upper limb non-neurogenic physical findings in computer operators and their relation to pain and neurological findings.

Objectives: The character of upper limb disorders in computer operators is subject to debate. While nerve involvement is suggested by the presence of pain, paresthesia and subjective weakness, these symptoms are mainly interpreted as related to pathologies outside the nervous system. Findings in a previous study involving computer operators indicated peripheral nerve afflictions with specific locations in symptomatic subjects.

Returning to Work Within Two Years After First-Time, Single-Level, Simple Lumbar Discectomy: A Multifactorial, Predictive Model.

Purpose Continued inability to work has societal and individual consequences. Thus, the factors associated with sustained return to work after lumbar discectomy should be identified. Prior studies of the biopsychosocial factors associated with sustained RTW were primarily based on patient-reported outcome data and have shown conflicting results because of small study samples.

Determinants of persistent asthma in young adults.

The aim of the study was to evaluate determinants for the prognosis of asthma in a population-based cohort of young adults. The study was a nine-year clinical follow up of 239 asthmatic subjects from an enriched population-based sample of 1,191 young adults, aged 20-44 years, who participated in an interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinical examination at baseline in 2003-2006. From the interview, an asthma score was generated as the simple sum of affirmative answers to five main asthma-like symptoms in order to analyse symptoms of asthma as a continuum.

Risk factors for incident asthma and COPD in a cohort of young adults.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to describe potential shared risk factors for incident asthma and COPD in a population-based, 9-year follow-up study.

Methods: From a cohort of 1191 individuals, aged 20-44, who participated in baseline survey including spirometry, bronchial challenge, and skin prick test (SPT) 742 subjects (62%) were reexamined at follow-up in 2012-2014.

Results: A total of 27 incident cases of asthma and 22 cases of COPD were identified at follow-up corresponding to an incidence rate of 5.

Are allergen batch differences and the use of double skin prick test important?

Background: Skin prick tests (SPT) are widely used both in clinical diagnostics and in research. The standardization of allergen extracts is well documented to be crucial for the validity of SPT, whereas less emphasis has been placed on reproducibility and the SPT procedure itself. The objectives of this study are to clarify how the double skin prick test procedure influence the sensitivity and specificity of the test and to analyse the differences in weal size in skin prick tests between two batches of allergen extracts from the same vendor.

[Sickness absence may impair self-efficacy].

Self-efficacy (SE) questionnaire data from the DWECS study in 2000 and 2005, age, sex, and transfer of sickness absence compensation data from the DREAM register. Men: sickness absence for more than 12 weeks and one and three absence spells are associated with decline in SE; women: decline in SE is associated with sickness absence for more than 52 weeks and two sickness absence spells. For both sexes SE declines at age 40-50 years.

Factors influencing quality of life in asthmatics--a case-control study.

Introduction: The quality of life (QOL) in persons with asthma is reduced and different factors such as demography, asthma severity and psychiatric comorbidity play an influential role. However, little is known about the interplay of these factors.

Objective: To describe QOL in relation to asthma and analyse for the relative impact of asthma severity, psychiatric comorbidity, lifestyle (smoking and obesity) and demographic determinants on QOL in persons with asthma.

Consequences of asthma on job absenteeism and job retention.

Aims: Various social and economic effects are associated with asthma. This quantitative study describes the effects of current asthma on work life evaluated from the number of weeks receiving transfer incomes.

Methods: The study population comprised 7,241 persons answering the ECRHS II screening questionnaire, which was sent to a random age and gender stratified sample of 10,000 persons aged 20 to 44 years.

Genetic polymorphisms in antioxidative enzymes are associated to forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in smokers independently of asthma.

Introduction: In this study, we hypothesised that the genotypes coding for low antioxidative enzyme activity are associated with asthma and reduced lung function.

Methods: Using the European Community Respiratory Health Survey protocol, we enlisted 1091 Danish subjects in this cross-sectional study. Asthma phenotypes were defined as asthma symptoms in combination with steroid usage, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy.

Differences in associations between markers of antioxidative defense and asthma are sex specific.

Background: Lungs are exposed to high levels of oxygen, air pollutants, and smoke, all of which stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, inflammatory cells produce ROS, and thus there may be increased demand for antioxidants, including antioxidant enzymes, in inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma. Sex-specific differences have been noted for asthma, which in postpubertal subjects is predominantly found in females.

Sex determines the influence of smoking and gene polymorphism on glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes.

Objective: Glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) is one of the major oxidative enzymes. Our aim was to characterize factors influencing its activity and to determine whether or not the activity is associated with asthma.

Material And Methods: Serum selenium concentration was measured, GPX1 polymorphisms were genotyped and smoking history was obtained in a Danish population-derived case-base cohort of 1,191 subjects designed to evaluate risk factors for asthma.

Prevention of upper limb symptoms and signs of nerve afflictions in computer operators: The effect of intervention by stretching.

Background: In a previous study of computer operators we have demonstrated the relation of upper limb pain to individual and patterns of neurological findings (reduced function of muscles, sensory deviations from normal and mechanical allodynia of nerve trunks). The identified patterns were in accordance with neural afflictions at three specific locations (brachial plexus at chord level, posterior interosseous and median nerve on elbow level). We have introduced an intervention program aiming to mobilize nerves at these locations and tested its efficacy.

Muscle fatigue in relation to forearm pain and tenderness among professional computer users.

Background: To examine the hypothesis that forearm pain with palpation tenderness in computer users is associated with increased extensor muscle fatigue.

Methods: Eighteen persons with pain and moderate to severe palpation tenderness in the extensor muscle group of the right forearm and twenty gender and age matched referents without such complaints were enrolled from the Danish NUDATA study of neck and upper extremity disorders among technical assistants and machine technicians. Fatigue of the right forearm extensor muscles was assessed by muscle twitch forces in response to low frequency (2 Hz) percutaneous electrical stimulation.

A cross-sectional study of the relation between symptoms and physical findings in computer operators.

Background: The character of upper limb disorder in computer operators is subject to debate. A peripheral nerve-involvement is suggested from the common presence of a triad of symptoms consisting of pain, paraestesiae and subjective weakness, and from physical findings suggesting neuropathy. This study aimed to examine the outcome of a detailed neurological examination in computer operators and to compare findings with the presence of symptoms.

Endotoxins isolated from the air of a Danish paper mill and the relation to change in lung function: an 11-year follow-up.

Background: A decline in lung function has been associated with farming, cotton spinning, and work in the animal feed industry. The aim of the study was to reveal if loss of lung function was associated to work at a paper mill.

Methods: Ninety-seven male paper workers (PW), and 55 control workers were examined.