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Biomedical subjects

B Moen

Publications and source records attributed to B Moen.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Frequent musculoskeletal symptoms and reduced health-related quality of life among industrial workers.

The high percentage of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) found in studies of general populations and various occupational groups underlines the need to distinguish between severely and mildly affected individuals. To investigate associations between MSS and quality of life, we examined the frequency of MSS on a five-point scale, health-related quality of life (SF-36) and sickness absence among 5654 workers in the aluminium industry. High frequencies of MSS from all body parts were related to lower scores on the SF-36 and increased sickness absence. This relationship was strongest for MSS from the lower back. Workers who reported low back MSS 'very often' had a mean role--physical score equivalent to that of the 15th percentile of the general population. These results show that workers who reported MSS often or very often were severely affected, and this scale can therefore be used to distinguish individuals at high risk for reduced health-related quality of life and sickness absence.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among aluminium workers.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) in workers in the aluminium industry, and to test the relationship with work by using the duration of employment as a measure of exposure. A total of 5654 workers (92%) answered a questionnaire. Operators, who were more exposed to physically demanding work, showed a greater incidence of MSS than did office workers. Among operators, the duration of employment was significantly correlated with MSS in nine out of ten areas of the body, when adjusted by multiple regression analyses for age, gender, height, weight, smoking and physical activity. Among office workers this relationship was weaker and was significant only for neck and lower back areas. The higher prevalence of MSS among operators and the association between their duration of employment and MSS suggests that a higher risk of MSS is related to the working environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A prospective randomized study comparing acupuncture with physiotherapy for low-back and pelvic pain in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of low-back and pelvic pain during pregnancy and compare it with physiotherapy. METHODS: Sixty pregnant women were allotted to acupuncture or physiotherapy. The women estimated the severity of their pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10 and disability in performing twelve common daily activities using a disability-rating index (DRI) from 0 to 10. RESULTS: In the acupuncture group all 30 women completed the study (two exclusions), in the physiotherapy group only 18. Before treatment the two study groups were rather similar with respect to pain and disability. After treatment the mean morning VAS had declined from 3.4 to 0.9 (p<0.01) in the acupuncture group and from 3.7 to 2.3 (NS) in the physiotherapy group. The corresponding evening values had declined from 7.4 to 1.7 (p<0.01) and 6.6 to 4.5 (p<0.01), respectively. The mean VAS values were lower after acupuncture than after physiotherapy both in the morning (p=0.02) and in the evening (p<0.01). After treatment also the mean DRI values had decreased significantly in the acupuncture group for 11 of 12 activities and the values were significantly lower for all activities than in the physiotherapy group where no significant changes had taken place. Overall satisfaction was good in both groups. There were no serious adverse events in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture relieved pain and diminished disability in low-back pain during pregnancy better than physiotherapy.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1997

Risk of cancer and exposure to gasoline vapors.

Until the introduction of self-service around 1970, service station workers in the Nordic countries were exposed to gasoline vapors. Based on measurements reported in the literature, the 8-hour time-weighted average benzene exposure was estimated to be in the range of 0.5-1 mg/m3. We studied the cancer incidence in a cohort of 19,000 service station workers from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. They were identified from the 1970 censuses and followed through 20 years, where 1,300 incident cancers were observed. National incidence rates were used for comparison. The incidence was not increased for leukemia (observed = 28, standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6-1.3) not for acute myeloid leukemia (observed = 13, SIR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.1). The incidence was slightly elevated for kidney cancer observed = 57, SIR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7) and for pharyngeal, laryngeal, and lung cancer. A 3.5-fold risk of nasal cancer was found (observed = 12, SIR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.8-6.1). This cohort exposed to gasoline vapors with benzene levels estimated to be 0.5-1 mg/m3 showed no excess risk of leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia, a 30% elevated risk of kidney cancer, and a previously unnoticed risk of nasal cancer.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1995

A cohort study of disability pensioning among Norwegian painters, construction workers, and workers in food processing.

The debate on the potentially adverse effects of long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents has mainly been based on observations in cross-sectional studies. We present results from a retrospective cohort study of three cohorts: 11,542 industrial and house painters, 36,899 construction workers, and 9,314 workers in food processing, all identified by the 1970 Norwegian census. The cohorts were followed to the end of 1987 for registration of disability pensioning by linkage of the census files to the files of the National Insurance Administration. The analysis revealed an increased risk for disability pensioning due to neurosis among the painters, compared with construction workers (rate ratio = 1.62; 95% confidence interval = 1.36-1.93) and compared with the workers in food processing (rate ratio = 1.84; 95% confidence interval = 1.42-2.38). The painters were also at increased risk of disability pensioning due to alcoholism. We found no major differences in ischemic heart diseases, disability pensioning due to all causes, or overall mortality. These results support the hypothesis that occupational exposure to organic solvents is a risk factor for disabling effects on the central nervous system.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Organic solvents and multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

A case-control study of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been carried out in western Norway. The study included 93% of the patients who had clinical onset of MS in the county of Hordaland during the years 1976-86 (N = 155) and 200 controls, marginally matched for age, sex and residence. There was no statistically significant difference between MS patients and controls with regard to exposure to organic solvents, exposure to the combination organic solvents and welding or to organic solvents and other chemical compounds.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Nervous system impairment caused by solvents].

Exposure to organic solvents may impair the function of the peripheral and the central nervous system. This paper describes the results of neurological and neuropsychological examinations of 19 patients with a chronic organic solvent intoxication syndrome. During examination they presented clinical findings diagnosed as polyneuropathy, encephalopathy or both. The syndromes have no specific characteristics, and a qualified evaluation of alternative etiologies is compulsory. Experience from occupational medicine is essential for appraising exposure to solvents.

Adult↗