J.J.
May, C. Keene, M. Bauer, R. Dalal, G. Grof and M. Ries
NIOSH Education and Information Division
Previous
studies from Sweden and England showed increased rates of
osteoarthritis of the hip in farmers. This study was done
to compare the rate of arthritis of the knee and hip in dairy
farmers to non-farmers. We also sought specific risk factors
in dairy farming.
We performed
a standardized physical examination and X-rays of hips and
knees in 61 randomly sampled dairy farmers and 31 rural non-farmers.
Detailed work history described specific work practices. Analysis
was by t-test and chi square.
Sixty-one
farmers (58.7ñ2.9 years) averaged 40.4ñ9.6 years of dairy
farming. Thirty-one controls averaged 60.8ñ3.0 years. Farmers
had X-ray changes of the hip in 14 (23%), of the knee in 19
(31%); and, in controls, 2 (7%) and 2 (7%) respectively. These
were bilateral in 57% and 21% respectively in farmers and
50% and 0% of controls. Symptomatic and radiographic arthritis
was found in 14.8% (hip) and 22.9% (knee) of farmers. Rates
were 3.5% (hip) and 7% (knee) in controls. The likelihood
of arthritis in farmers did not relate to any specific work
practice but did relate to: years of milking, number of cows
milked, herd size and acres. Arthritis was also related to
body weight at age 20 and 40.
Arthritis
is more common in dairy farmers than non-farm controls. Disease
of the knee is more frequent and more radiographically severe
than hip. Occurrence relates to body weight and indicators
of intensity/duration of dairy farm work.
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NASD Review: 04/2002
This
research abstract was extracted from a portion of the proceedings
of "Agricultural Safety and Health: Detection, Prevention
and Intervention," a conference presented by the Ohio State
University and the Ohio Department of Health, sponsored by
the Centers for Disease Control/National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health.
J.J.
May, C. Keene, M. Bauer, R. Dalal, G. Grof and M. Ries, Mary
Imogene Bassett Hospital and New York Center for Agricultural
Medicine and Health, Cooperstown, NY.
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