Abstract
BackgroundThere are theoretical grounds to suspect that heavy lifting at work is an important risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD). However the relationship has not been sufficiently acknowledged by empirical studies. Positive and statistically significant associations have been found in studies that utilize self-reported exposure data. Such studies are, however, prone to reporting bias. All else equal, people with a poor cardiovascular fitness/health may have a higher propensity to perceive their work environment as heavy.ObjectiveThe study described in the present protocol aims to investigate the relationship between heavy lifting at work and IHD by use of material and methods that are free from reporting bias.MethodsThis is a register-based prospective cohort study. Male blue-collar workers in Denmark will be identified and followed through national registers, from 2001-2010, for hospital treatment or death due to IHD. Relative rates of IHD between “workers in occupations likely to involve heavy lifting” and “other blue-collar workers” will be estimated through Poisson regression.ResultsResults are expected to be ready in mid-2015.ConclusionsSince this is not a randomized study, it cannot confirm etiological hypotheses. It may, however, confirm that employment in occupations that involve heavy lifting is a predictor for IHD and thereby lend support to the hypothesis of a causal relationship.
Highlights
Confirm that employment in occupations that involve heavy lifting is a predictor for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and thereby lend support to the hypothesis of a causal relationship. (JMIR Res Protoc 2014;3(3):e45) doi:10.2196/resprot
A positive association between occupational physical demands, cardiovascular disease, and mortality has been found in several cohorts [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
The above hypotheses are operationalizations designed to shed light on the following underlying hypotheses: (1) prolonged periods of occupational heavy lifting are likely to increase the risk of IHD, and (2) prolonged periods of occupational heavy lifting are likely to increase the risk of death due to IHD, either through an increased risk of occurrence or an increased risk of death given occurrence of the disease
Summary
Background A positive association between occupational physical demands, cardiovascular disease, and mortality has been found in several cohorts [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The specific types of occupational physical demands conferring the increased risk for cardiovascular disease remain unsettled [8]. A retrospective case-control study has indicated that occupational heavy lifting increases the risk for acute myocardial infarction while occupational walking and leisure time physical activity decrease the risk [3]. In a recent prospective multi-adjusted study [9], men reporting heavy lifting at work had 55% increased risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Positive and statistically significant associations have been found in studies that utilize self-reported exposure data. People with a poor cardiovascular fitness/health may have a higher propensity to perceive their work environment as heavy
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