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Neurosensory component of hand–arm vibration syndrome: a 22-year follow-up study
- Source :
- Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2019.
-
Abstract
- Background Knowledge about the long-term course of the neurologic component of hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is scarce. Aims To study the course and prognostic factors of the neurosensory component of HAVS over a period of 22 years. Methods Forty male sheet metal workers, with a mean age of 60 (range 45–78) years at follow-up, were examined with a test battery in 1994 and 2017. At baseline, the sample comprised 27 workers with HAVS symptoms and 13 workers without HAVS symptoms. Among the 27 workers, 25 workers reported work-related hand–arm vibration during follow-up (mean 3639 h). In 2017, the mean time since vibration stopped was 8.4 years. Results Among the 27 workers with HAVS in 1994, no overall statistically significant change was observed in hand numbness (Stockholm Workshop Scale), shoulder/arm pain (pain scale) or finger pain from 1994 to 2017. However, vibration exposure during follow-up was associated with increased finger pain. Cotinine, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, glycosylated haemoglobin and folate were not associated with changes in neurosensory symptoms or manual dexterity (Grooved Pegboard) from 1994 to 2017. A diagnosis of HAVS in 1994 did not predict poor hand strength 22 years later. Isolated hand numbness (without white finger attacks) was more common at baseline than at follow-up. Conclusions This 22-year follow-up study indicates a tendency towards irreversibility of hand numbness and finger pain in workers with HAVS. Continued vibration exposure seems to predict increased finger pain. Our findings highlight the importance of HAVS prevention.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Finger pain
Severity of Illness Index
03 medical and health sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
0302 clinical medicine
neurosensory
Occupational Exposure
Hand strength
Vibration syndrome
Humans
Medicine
Glycosylated haemoglobin
pain
030212 general & internal medicine
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome
Aged
Neurologic Examination
musculoskeletal
Hand–arm vibration syndrome
business.industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Follow up studies
Pain scale
Middle Aged
Original Papers
Stockholm scale
030210 environmental & occupational health
Occupational Diseases
chemistry
Metallurgy
Physical therapy
business
Cotinine
Follow-Up Studies
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14718405 and 09627480
- Volume :
- 69
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Occupational Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....728a981ce4ffd25fba30de8eb46922ae
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz029