Risk factors for sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders among self-employed Dutch farmers: a case-control study.

Background: In Dutch agriculture, musculoskeletal disorders are a main cause of sick leave. Among self-employed insured farmers, neck, shoulder, upper extremity, and back disorders accounted for 30% of the claims for sick leave of less than 1 year This case-control study set out to identify and quantify risk factors for sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders among self-employed Dutch farmers.

Methods: Sick leave, claimed at an insurance company from 1998 to 2001 for back (SL-BP, n = 198) or neck/shoulder/upper extremity trouble (SL-EXT, n = 89) was analyzed; the controls did not file any claim in this period (n = 816).