Dataset Information

Occupational risk factors for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We decided to conduct the first systematic review with meta-analysis to provide the highest level of up-to-date evidence on the occupational risk factors for Multiple Sclerosis.

Methods

A systematic, comprehensive literature search was performed in four electronic academic databases. We included any case-control study that enrolled working-age subjects and compared the proportion of MS cases with controls who were not exposed to an occupational risk factor. The primary outcome was the occurrence of MS. The quality assessment was performed with the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Control Studies, developed, and validated by the Joanna Briggs Institute. All the selection process was also carried out by two independent and previously trained researchers.

Results

Overall, the total sample included 19,004 people with MS and 4,164,162 controls. Agricultural workers (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.13-1.83), offshore workers (OR = 3.56, 95% CI 2.74-4.61), and hairdressers (OR = 8.25, 95% CI 1.02-66.52) were associated with a higher probability of being diagnosed with MS. In parallel, workers exposed to toxic fumes from oil wells (OR = 16.80, 95% CI 8.33-33.90), low-frequency magnetic fields (OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.03-2.72), and pesticides (OR = 3.17, 95% CI = 2.53-3.99) also had an increased likelihood of having MS.

Conclusion

Our study has the potential to influence more assertive public policies. Nevertheless, future studies on how the occupational setting may contribute to the incidence of MS are highly recommended.

Systematic review registration

The protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO- CRD42023443257).

SUBMITTER: Vitturi BK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10694508 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Occupational risk factors for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Vitturi Bruno Kusznir BK Montecucco Alfredo A Rahmani Alborz A Dini Guglielmo G Durando Paolo P

Frontiers in public health 20231116

<h4>Objective</h4>We decided to conduct the first systematic review with meta-analysis to provide the highest level of up-to-date evidence on the occupational risk factors for Multiple Sclerosis.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic, comprehensive literature search was performed in four electronic academic databases. We included any case-control study that enrolled working-age subjects and compared the proportion of MS cases with controls who were not exposed to an occupational risk factor. The primary o ...[more]

PMID: 38054069

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Meniscal lesions are common and are associated with the development of knee osteoarthritis. Knee-straining activities at work such as kneeling or squatting cause high biomechanical stresses on the knee joints that can lead to acute or chronic injuries. The objective of this systematic review is to update the evidence on the potential relationship between occupational risk factors and meniscal lesions. METHODS:We searched the Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases until August 2021 to identify epidemiological observational studies on the association between occupational risk factors and meniscal lesions. Study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Effect measures were extracted from individual studies and pooled with random effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity analyses were conducted. We used GRADE (Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) to assess the overall quality of evidence. RESULTS:The database search resulted in 11,006 references, and 46 additional studies were identified through hand search. Twenty-two studies (represented in 25 publications) met the predefined eligibility criteria and nine records were included in the meta-analysis. There was only one study with an overall low risk of bias. Significant associations between occupational risk factors and the development of meniscal lesions were found for kneeling (effect size (ES) 2.15, 95% CI 1.67-2.76), squatting (ES 2.01, 95% CI 1.34-3.03), climbing stairs (ES 2.28, 95% CI 1.58-3.30), lifting and carrying weights ≥ 10 kg (ES 1.63, 95% CI 1.35-1.96), lifting and carrying weights ≥ 25 kg (ES 1.56, 95% CI 1.08-2.24), playing football on a professional level (ES 5.22, 95% CI 3.24-8.41), working as a hard coal miner (ES 5.23, 95% CI 2.16-12.69) and floor layers (ES 1.99, 95% CI 1.43-2.78). The overall quality of evidence according GRADE was moderate to low. CONCLUSION:We found consistent evidence of an increased risk of meniscal lesions by occupational knee-straining exposures. Our findings are important for the development of preventive strategies to reduce work-related knee disorders and work absence. TRIAL REGISTRATION:PROSPERO (registration no. CRD42020196279 ).

Project description:BackgroundPeople with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) are vulnerable to unfavorable occupational outcomes and the COVID-19 pandemic brought major consequences on people's professional lives. In this view, we decided to investigate the occupational outcomes of PwMS during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe performed a systematic review with meta-analysis searching key terms in four databases. We initially included any peer-reviewed original article that enrolled adult patients with the diagnosis of MS and assessed any occupational variable during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no time limits and no language restrictions. The primary outcomes were the prevalence of unemployment, retirement and employment status change among people with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other outcomes included the modality and characteristics of work: type of work, full-time work, part-time work and remote work. We also searched for data from studies that addressed any change in the work status due to the COVID-19 outbreak.ResultsWe identified 49 eligible articles comprising a total sample size of 17,364 individuals with MS. The pooled prevalence of unemployment and retirement was 0.47 (95% CI = 0.42-0.53). The pooled prevalence of PwMS who were unemployed or retired was positively associated with the progressive phenotype of the disease (p = 0.017) and the use of glatiramer acetate (p = 0.004), but negatively associated with hospitalization due to COVID-19 (p = 0.008) and the use of immunosuppressants (p = 0.032), siponimod (p < 0.001), and cladribine (p = 0.021). The pooled proportion of PwMS that reported any change of the employment status during the COVID-19 pandemic was 0.43 (95% CI = 0.36-0.50) while the pooled prevalence of PwMS who worked remotely during this period was 0.37 (95% CI = 0.15-0.58). The change in employment status was negatively associated with the duration of MS (p = 0.03) but positively associated with the progressive phenotype of the disease (p < 0.001).ConclusionOur seminal review may serve as an example of how patients with neurological diseases or disabilities in general may have their jobs impacted in a pandemic and foster the context of global socio-economic crisis.

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Project description:BackgroundA wide spectrum of high-risk factors in pregnancy can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes or short- or long-term health effects. Despite this, there has been no synthesis of findings on the measurement, potential causes, and health outcomes of multiple high-risk factors in pregnancy (MHFP). We aimed to address this gap by summarising the existing research on this topic.MethodsWe retrieved studies published up to 3 June 2024 through systematic database searches and used a narrative synthesis approach to summarise the measurement, patterns, causes, and outcomes of MHFP. We also estimated the pooled MHFP prevalence through meta-analysis with a random effects model and performed subgroup analyses and meta-regression to examine potential sources of between-study heterogeneity.ResultsWe included 83 observational studies published between 2010 and 2024, of which 72% were from high-income countries. These studied factors can be grouped into four categories: physical conditions, mental conditions, sociobehavioural problems, and pregnancy history. We identified 16 MHFP patterns, among which co-existing multiple physical conditions were the most common pattern. The overall pooled prevalence of MHFP was 12% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 12-13), with an increasing trend and relatively higher levels in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We observed heterogeneity in the measurement of MHFP across the studies, possibly due to the number of risk factors in the definition of MHFP. About 78% of included studies investigated MHFP-associated health outcomes for women and offspring, with only two studies examining long-term maternal or offspring outcomes later in life.ConclusionsResearch into MHFP has been emerging over the past decade, but is far from complete. The burden of MHFP is increasing worldwide, particularly LMICs. Maternal healthcare systems must shift to a multidisciplinary and integrated framework so as to better design and implement prevention and intervention programmes and sustain the healthy development of the next generation.RegistrationPROSPERO: CRD42022358889.

Dataset Information

Occupational risk factors for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Systematic review registration

Publications

Occupational risk factors for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Similar Datasets

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