Association Of Occupational Physical Activity Research Articles

Abstract P274: Associations of Occupational Physical Activity With Allostatic Load Among Workers in the United States

Introduction: Occupational physical activity (OPA) has been linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality among workers, but underlying mechanisms are not clear. Allostatic load (AL) presents a measure of the accumulative burden of chronic stress and may play a role in the association of OPA with cardiovascular outcomes. We hypothesized that OPA was positively associated with AL in workers. Methods: Analyses were conducted in 6487 United States (U.S.) workers (i.e., working at a job or business) aged 20-60 years who were not pregnant, had data on moderate-to-vigorous OPA and biomarkers for AL calculation using a national representative sample, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2018). OPA was dichotomized primarily by time spent on moderate-to-vigorous OPA (i.e., high: ≥ 150 vs. low: < 150; min/week) and secondarily by energy spent on it (i.e., high: ≥ median vs. low: < median; kcal/week). AL score was calculated using a common method from 9 biomarkers with a range of 0-9. Associations of OPA with AL were assessed using multivariable linear regression models with sampling weights applied to represent U.S. workers. Results: AL score was significantly higher among workers who spent higher time on moderate-to-vigorous OPA (β = 0.11, P = 0.02) or had higher energy on it (β = 0.10, P = 0.05) than their counterparts. When stratified by gender and age, the positive associations of OPA with AL remained significant only among females aged 20-40 years (β = 0.16, P = 0.02 for higher time on moderate-to-vigorous OPA; β = 0.35, P < 0.001 for higher energy on moderate-to-vigorous OPA), but such associations were not observed in other groups (females aged 41-60 years, males aged 20-40 years, and males aged 41-60 years). Conclusions: We found that OPA was positively associated with AL among U.S. workers, particularly in young female workers. Our findings are novel and worthy of further studies to confirm the role of OPA in explaining cardiometabolic disorders.

Association of occupational physical activity and disability pension in 756,159 Spanish workers: A prospective cohort study with 13 years follow-up

Recent research from Nordic countries identified occupational physical activity (OPA) as a risk factor for disability pension, but further research accounting for exhaustive analyses in novel populations is warranted. Our objective was to assess the association between OPA and disability pension using administrative data. This prospective registry-based cohort study used data from the Spanish Continuous Working Life Sample (CWLS). Participants were followed up from baseline (January 1, 2006) to first event of disability pension, mortality, or end of follow-up (September 1, 2019). The assessment of OPA was based on registers of economic activity and their correspondence with a validated OPA index. To examine the association between OPA and disability pension, adjusted proportional hazard, and Fine-Gray models using mortality as competing risk were conducted. We retrieved data from 756,159 workers (57.7% men) with an average age of 38.5 years (SD 11.9). During 13.6 years from baseline to the end of follow-up (9,463,041 person-years), 18,191 men (4.2%) and 9631 (3.0%) women received a disability pension. In the fully adjusted model, participants exposed to higher levels of OPA showed higher risk for disability pension in an exposure-response fashion. Men and women exposed to very high OPA showed the highest HR for disability pension (2.31 [95% CI, 2.17 to 2.46] and 1.68 [95% CI, 1.56 to 1.81], respectively. These results warrant preventative measures to address early involuntary exit from the labour market in workers exposed to high physical work demands.

Association of Occupational Physical Activity and Disability Pension in 756,159 Workers: A Prospective Cohort Study with 13 Years Follow-Up

Association of Occupational Physical Activity and Disability Pension in 756,159 Workers: A Prospective Cohort Study with 13 Years Follow-Up

Abstract 3497: The physical activity paradox in lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: To deliver a systematic review of the literature synthesizing data on the association of occupational physical activity with lung cancer risk in observational studies. Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Data Source: A literature search was performed in electronic databases of PubMed/Medline and Embase. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: We screened for peer-reviewed articles from prospective cohort and case-control studies assessing the association of occupational physical activity with lung cancer risk. A sex-specific meta-analysis assessed the association of high (compared to low) level occupational physical activity with lung cancer risk, estimating the relative risk (RR) and odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The systematic search identified 2065 articles, among which, 13 journal articles met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis adjusted for age, status and/or intensity of smoking, with a pooled sample size of 623,741 participants (men: 263,530; women: 358,589). A random-effect model of four prospective and four case-control studies indicated that men who engage in high-level occupational physical activity had a 16% higher risk (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.35) of lung cancer than those engaging in low-level occupational physical activity. There was no association observed among women (RR=1.05, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.36) based on three available studies (prospective cohort: n=2; case-control: n=1). Conclusions: Findings from the review suggest a higher risk of lung cancer among men reported high-level occupational physical activity. Further prospective studies incorporating rigorous measures of domain-specific physical activity and other occupational exposures are needed to elucidate this association. Citation Format: Benny Rana, Liang Hu, Andrew Harper, Chao Cao, Cheryl Peters, Darren Brenner, Lin Yang. The physical activity paradox in lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3497.

Occupational Physical Activity and Lung Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To deliver a systematic review of the literature synthesizing data on the association of occupational physical activity with lung cancer risk in observational studies. Systematic review with meta-analysis. A literature search was performed in the electronic databases of PubMed/Medline and Embase. We screened peer-reviewed articles from prospective cohort and case-control studies assessing the association of occupational physical activity with lung cancer risk. A sex-specific meta-analysis assessed the association of high (compared to low/sedentary) level occupational physical activity with lung cancer risk, estimating the relative risk (RR) and odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The systematic search identified 2065 articles, among which, eight journal articles met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis adjusted for age, smoking status and/or intensity, with a pooled sample size of 532,282 participants (men: 219,410; women: 312,872). A random-effect model of four prospective and four case-control studies indicated that men who engage in high-level occupational physical activity had a 15% higher risk (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.28) of lung cancer than those engaging in low/sedentary-level occupational physical activity. There was no association observed among women (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.77-1.34) based on three available studies (prospective cohort: n = 2; case-control: n = 1). Findings from the review suggest a higher risk of lung cancer among men reporting high-level occupational physical activity. Further prospective studies incorporating rigorous measures of domain-specific physical activity, detailed smoking status and intensity, and other occupational exposures are needed to elucidate this association. CRD42019137911.

Analysis of Association of Occupational Physical Activity, Leisure-Time Physical Activity, and Sedentary Lifestyle with Hypertension according to the Adherence with Aerobic Activity in Women Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2017 Data.

Purpose We investigated the association between occupational physical activity, leisure-time physical activity, and sedentary lifestyle with hypertension by adherence with aerobic exercise in middle-aged and elderly women. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was performed using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a nationally representative data between 2016 and 2017. A total of 4,241 women aged 40 years or older were included. Hypertension diagnosed by physician and exercise status was asked by questionnaires. Results Mean age of the participants was 58.4 (±11.4, range: 40∼80 years). There were 1,681 (39.6%) women in the aerobic activity adherence group. In the logistic regression analysis with adjustment for confounding factors, frequency of occupational physical activity (OPA) level (OR 1.931; p=0.048, in ≤4 per week group), walking frequency (OR 0.436; p=0.048, in ≤4 per week group), walking frequency (OR 0.436; p=0.048, in ≤4 per week group), walking frequency (OR 0.436; p=0.048, in ≤4 per week group), walking frequency (OR 0.436; Conclusions In the aerobic activity adherence group, further research is needed to identify the influence of occupational physical activity. In the aerobic activity nonadherence group, decreasing sitting hours and increasing endurance exercise may be helpful.

Strenuous occupational physical activity: Potential association with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk

Objective:The impact of recreational physical activity (RPA) on cancer risk has been extensively studied. However, the association of occupational physical activity (OPA), which differs in dose and intensity from RPA, with different cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), has received less attention.Materials and methods:We conducted a hospital-based case–control study in Kashmir, India, majorly a rural population, to evaluate the association of OPA with ESCC risk. Histopathologically confirmed 703 ESCC cases and 1664 controls, individually matched to the respective cases for age, sex and district of residence, were recruited.Main outcome measures:Information on type, duration and intensity of physical activity was obtained in face-to-face interviews with participants using a structured questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Body mass index was unable to be accounted for in the analysis.Results:A high level of OPA was associated with increased ESCC risk (OR = 2.17, 95% CI; 1.41–3.32), compared to subjects with moderate OPA. The association with ESCC risk was stronger in strenuous workers (OR = 3.64, 95% CI; 2.13–6.20). The association of strenuous OPA with ESCC risk persisted only in subjects that were involved in strenuous activities for equal to or greater than five days/week.Conclusions:Our study suggests a possible association of strenuous OPA with ESCC risk. Although our results were adjusted for multiple factors, including indicators of socioeconomic status, more replicative occupational epidemiological studies are needed to rule out any residual confounding.

Occupational physical activity and all‐cause and cardiovascular disease mortality: Results from two longitudinal studies in Switzerland

Research regarding the effects of occupational physical activity on health remains inconsistent. We analyzed the association of occupational physical activity with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. We analyzed two cohorts with baseline assessments from 1977 to 1993 ("National Research Program 1A" (NRP1A) and "MONItoring of trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease" [MONICA]) and mortality follow-up until 2015 using adjusted Cox regression models. We included 4396 NRP1A participants (137 793 person-years of follow-up, 1541 deaths) and 5780 MONICA participants (135 410 person-years, 1158 deaths). All-cause mortality was higher for men in the high compared with the low occupational physical activity category according to NRP1A (hazard ratio [HR] 1.25, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.05-1.50). CVD mortality was higher for men in the moderate compared with the low occupational physical activity category according to MONICA (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.03-1.91). Results for women were not statistically significant. We observed higher total and CVD mortality risks in men with higher occupational physical activity but inconsistent results for women and across cohorts.

Occupational Physical Activity and Coronary Heart Disease in Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.

Women comprise nearly half of the labor force in our society, but the impact of the occupational psychical activity on women's heart health in later life was unclear. We conducted a case-cohort study to assess the association of occupational physical activity (OPA), alone and jointly with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We included women enrolled in Women's Health Initiative Observational Study who provided an occupational history at baseline and were followed until 2013 for the first occurrence of myocardial infarction or death from CHD (mean age ± SD = 63.4 ± 7.2). A total of 5,243 women free of CHD at baseline were randomly selected into a subcohort and 3,421 CHD events were adjudicated during follow-up. Through linkage of Standard Occupational Classification codes to the Occupational Information Network, we assessed cumulative and most recent exposure of OPA. LTPA was assessed through Women's Health Initiative's physical activity questionnaire. Weighted Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate CHD risk. After adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic factors, levels of OPA were not associated with CHD risk. Compared with women with low OPA and high LTPA, women with moderate to high cumulative OPA and low LTPA had relative high CHD risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26, 1.88 for moderate OPA and HR: 1.46. 95% CI: 1.20, 1.78 for high OPA). Results from this study suggest no overall association between lifetime OPA and CHD risk in women, but the impact of OPA varies by LTPA levels.

Occupational And Leisure-time Physical Activity And Risk Of Disability Pension

Objectives To prospectively investigate the association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and disability pension due to musculoskeletal cause, mental cause or any cause. We also examined the combined association of OPA and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with disability pension. Methods A population-based cohort study in Norway on 32 362 persons aged 20–65 years with questionnaire data on OPA and LTPA that were followed up for incident disability pension through the National Insurance Database. We used Cox regression to estimate adjusted HRs with 95% CIs. Results During a follow-up of 9.3 years, 3837 (12%) received disability pension. Compared with people with mostly sedentary work, those who performed much walking, much walking and lifting, and heavy physical work had HRs of 1.26 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.38), 1.44 (95% CI 1.32 to 1.58) and 1.48 (95% CI 1.33 to 1.70), respectively. These associations were stronger for disability pension due to musculoskeletal disorders, whereas there was no clear association between OPA and risk of disability pension due to mental disorders. People with high OPA and low LTPA had a HR of 1.77 (95% CI 1.58 to 1.98) for overall disability pension and HR of 2.56 (95% CI 2.10 to 3.11) for disability pension due to musculoskeletal disorders, versus low OPA and high LTPA. Conclusions We observed a positive association between OPA and risk of disability pension due to all causes and musculoskeletal disorders, but not for mental disorders. Physical activity during leisure time reduced some, but not all of the unfavourable effect of physically demanding work on risk of disability pension.

Obesity Prevalence by Occupation in Washington State, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

IntroductionData that estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for worker obesity by occupation are generally unavailable and could inform the prioritization of workplace wellness programs. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of obesity by occupation, examine the association of occupational physical activity and a range of health behaviors with obesity, and identify occupations in which workers are at high risk of obesity in Washington State.MethodsWe conducted descriptive and multivariable analyses among 37,626 employed Washington State respondents using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in odd numbered years, from 2003 through 2009. We estimated prevalence and prevalence ratios (PRs) by occupational groups adjusting for demographics, occupational physical activity level, smoking, fruit and vegetable consumption, and leisure-time physical activity (LPTA).ResultsOverall obesity prevalence was 24.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.0–25.1). Workers in protective services were 2.46 (95% CI, 1.72–3.50) times as likely to be obese as workers in health diagnosing occupations. Compared with their counterparts, workers who consumed adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables and had adequate LTPA were significantly less likely to be obese (PR = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86–0.97 and PR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.60–0.67, respectively). Workers with physically demanding occupational physical activity had a lower PR of obesity (PR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78–0.88) than those with nonphysically demanding occupational physical activity.ConclusionObesity prevalence and health risk behaviors vary substantially by occupation. Employers, policy makers, and health promotion practitioners can use our results to target and prioritize workplace obesity prevention and health behavior promotion programs.

Is Midlife Occupational Physical Activity Related to Disability in Old Age? The SNAC-Kungsholmen Study

ObjectivesLeisure-time physical activity (PA) has been established to be related to more years lived without disability. However, less is known about the relationship between occupational PA and disability in old age. The aim of the study was 1) to investigate whether midlife occupational PA is related to late-life disability, and 2) to test the hypothesis that the association differs according to the occupational categories of blue and white collar work.MethodsThe study population was derived from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, and consisted of a random sample of 1804 subjects aged 72 and above. The association of occupational PA during the longest held occupation with disability in old age was determined using logistic regression.ResultsThere was no significant relationship between occupational PA and disability in personal or instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) after controlling for demographic and health-related factors. However, in stratified analyses moderate levels of occupational PA was associated with a lower odds ratio of dependency in personal ADL amongst white collar workers, compared to low level of occupational PA (OR = 0.34 95% C1 0.12–0.98).ConclusionsModerate levels of midlife occupational PA were associated with a decreased risk of personal ADL disability in old age among white collar workers, but not among blue collar workers. Our results highlight the importance of encouraging white collar workers to engage in physical activity during or outside work hours.

Occupational Versus Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Reducing Cardiovascular Risks and Mortality Among Ethnic Chinese Adults in Taiwan

The aim of the study was to investigate the associations of occupational physical activity (OPA) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Physical activity data from the Baeck questionnaire was available for 1706 participants. During a follow-up period, there were 215 cases of CVD and 438 deaths. With the lowest tertile as the reference, the hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD and mortality in the highest tertiles of LTPA were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46-0.92) and 0.73 (95% CI = 0.58-0.92). In contrast, the HRs for CVD and mortality in the highest tertiles of OPA were 1.75 (95% CI = 1.10-2.80) and 1.53 (95% CI = 1.06-2.22). The association between OPA and the risk of CVD and mortality was significant in men but not in women. Our findings suggest that high OPA imposes harmful effects on the risk of CVD and mortality, particularly among men.

Occupational physical activity in relation with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Using data from two case-control studies undertaken in Athens, Greece from 1994 to 1997, we have examined the association of occupational physical activity with the risk of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Cases consisted of 320 patients with histologically confirmed incident prostate cancer and 184 patients with surgically treated BPH. Controls were 246 patients hospitalized for minor conditions. Occupations before retirement were classified, independently and blindly as to case-control status, into high, medium, and low physical activity levels. After fine controlling for years of schooling, there was a suggestive inverse association of physical activity with prostate cancer (P for trend 0.12) and a significant one with BPH (P for trend 0.04). The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for high versus low activity was 0.69 (0.40-1.22) for prostate cancer and 0.59 (0.31-1.11) for BPH. The association of physical activity with both conditions tended to be more pronounced among men 65 years old or younger. Given the high frequency of occurrence of the examined conditions in the male population and our limited knowledge about other modifiable risk factors, preventive measures may have to focus on increasing physical activity.

Desk potatoes: the importance of occupational physical activity on health.

To determine the relationship between occupational physical activity (OPA) and chronic disease after controlling for leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and other risk factors. Using cycle 2.1 of the Canadian Community Health Survey, OPA energy expenditure was derived. The association of OPA with any self-reported chronic disease, heart disease or diabetes was determined using logistic regression while controlling for confounders. The analyses of OPA controlled for age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, smoking status, time since immigration, income, education and LTPA. High OPA was associated with reduced odds of having any chronic disease (OR = 0.89) independent of LTPA status. Similar significant associations were also observed for heart disease (OR = 0.61) and diabetes (OR = 0.72). High OPA is associated with reduced odds of chronic disease independent of LTPA. Accordingly, it is important that physical activity questionnaires carefully assess OPA in addition to LTPA.

Occupational physical activity and risk for cancer of the colon and rectum in Sweden among men and women by anatomic subsite

Inverse association between physical activity and colon cancer is well established, at least in men. We investigated the association of occupational physical activity with subsite-specific colorectal cancer risk. On the basis of occupational titles from the Swedish nationwide censuses in 1960 and 1970, we defined a cohort of women and men with the same work-related physical demands in 1960 and 1970. Incidence of colon and rectum cancer during 1971-1989 was ascertained through linkages to the Cancer Register. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated through Poisson regression. The risk for colon cancer increased with decreasing occupational physical activity. RR among sedentary women and men was 1.2 and 1.3 (P for trend=0.08 and <0.001). For men, the risks for proximal and distal colon cancer increased by 20 and 40% (P for trend=0.005 and <0.001). Inactivity seemed to be particularly associated with descending colon cancer (RR =2.4, P for trend<0.001). In women, the inverse association with activity was concentrated to proximal parts of colon; RR for cancer in the proximal and transverse colon among sedentary women was 1.4 and 2.0 (P for trend <0.07 and <0.01). Cancer of the rectum was not associated with activity in either sex. We confirmed the well-known inverse relationship between activity and risk of colon cancer but not rectal cancer in both sexes. Data suggest that the physical activity-related variation in risk among women is greatest in the proximal and middle parts of the colon, whereas the corresponding peak in men seems to be more distal. Sex-specific anatomic and motility differences of the colon might contribute to this subsite difference.

Occupational Physical Activity, Overweight, and Mortality

This population-based 24-year follow-up study evaluated the association of occupational physical activity (OPA) with overweight and mortality in 47,405 men and women, healthy at baseline, and reporting OPA as sedentary (reference), light, moderately heavy, or heavy. The adjusted odds ratio for overweight was slightly less than 1 for all categories of current nonsedentary work in men but increased by OPA in women. Only heavy OPA conferred a lower mortality with an adjusted rate ratio of 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.76–0.92) for men and 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.52–0.91) for women. This observational study, with OPA recorded in the 1970s and 1980s, suggested a slight protective effect for overweight by nonsedentary work for men and lower mortality by heavy OPA for both genders.