ORIGINAL PAPER
Ischaemic heart disease among workers in occupations associated with heavy lifting
More details
Hide details
1
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
(Department of Occupational Health)
Corresponding author
Harald Hannerz
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2016;29(1):129-36
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To investigate a hypothesized positive association between employment in occupations where heavy lifting is
likely to occur, and the risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Material and Methods: Male blue-collar workers from Denmark
(N = 516 180) were monitored with respect to hospital treatment or death due to IHD, through national registers
over the years 2001–2010. Poisson regression was used to estimate relative rates of IHD between “workers in occupations
which, according to an expert opinion, are likely to involve heavy lifting” and “other blue-collar workers.” Prevalent cases
were excluded from the analysis. Results: The rate ratio was estimated at 0.97 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94–1.00) for
deaths or hospitalizations due to IHD and 1.07 (95% CI: 0.94–1.21) for deaths due to IHD. Conclusions: The results do not
support the hypothesis that occupational heavy lifting is an important risk factor for IHD.