8287281 The effect of occupational lifting load to lumbar disc degeneration among male workers in an Asian population

<h3>Objective</h3> Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) has been related to heavy manual material handling. There are inconsistencies in findings regarding the relationship of occupational loading with spinal degeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of LDD and the dose-response relationship between lifetime cumulative lifting load and LDD among male workers in Asian population. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> This was a cross-sectional study. The participants were recruited from walk-in clinic patients and market workers who carry heavy loads. Every participant received assessments with an occupational questionnaire, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine, and estimation of lumbar disk compression load. The MRI assessments included assessment of disc degeneration from L1 to S1 lumbar disc level. The compression load was estimated by using a biomechanical software system, 3D SSPP (3D Static Strength Prediction Program). <h3>Results</h3> A total of 252 male participants were entered the final analyze and categorized into tertiles by cumulative lifting load (ie, &lt;5.4 × 105, 5.4 × 105 to 6.75 × 105, and ≥6.75 × 105 Nh). The risk of LDD increased with cumulative lifting load. The best dose-response relationships were found at the L5–S1 disc level, in which high cumulative lifting load was associated with elevated odds ratios statistically significant of 5.24 for disc protruding, 3.47 for disc height narrowing, 2.76 for annulus tear and 2.44 for dehydration compared with low lifting load. Participants exposed to intermediate lifting load had an increased odds ratio of 3.40 for disc protruding, 2.84 for disc height narrowing, 2.65 for annulus tear and 2.63 for dehydration compared with low lifting load. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The results suggest a dose-response relationship between cumulative lifting load and LDD in Asian among male workers. The prevention to occupational heavy lifting load exposure is a crucial consideration in workplace for worker’s safety.