Associations of work activities requiring pinch or hand grip or exposure to hand-arm vibration with finger and wrist osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis

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OBJECTIVE: We systematically reviewed the epidemiologic evidence linking finger and wrist osteoarthritis (OA) with work activities requiring pinch or hand grip or exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV).

METHODS: PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to June 2013. We selected studies assessing the associations of radiographic diagnosed finger and/or wrist joint OA with work activities involving pinch or hand grip or exposure to HAV. We used specific criteria to evaluate completeness of reporting, potential confounding, and bias. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were computed using random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS: Of the 19 studies included, 17 were cross-sectional, 1 was a prospective cohort, and 1 a case-control study. The meta-analyses of studies that controlled their estimates for at least age and gender showed the associations of pinch grip work with proximal interphalangeal joint [OR 1.56, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.09-2.23] and the first carpometacarpal joint OA (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.06-4.17), but not with distal interphalangeal, metacarpalphalangeal, or wrist joints OA. Hand grip work and exposure to HAV were not associated with any finger or wrist OA.

CONCLUSION: Epidemiological studies provide limited evidence that pinch grip may increase the risk of wrist or finger OA, but causal relation cannot be resolved because of cross-sectional designs and inadequate characterization of biomechanical strain to the hand and wrist.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
Volume40
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)133-145
Number of pages13
ISSN0355-3140
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2014

    Research areas

  • Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Case-Control Studies, Causality, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Diseases, Occupational Exposure, Osteoarthritis, Pinch Strength, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Vibration, Wrist Injuries

ID: 138808405