Affiliations: Toxicology and Molecular Biology Branch, Health
Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA | Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects
Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Berran Yucesoy, CDC/NIOSH, Health
Effects Laboratory Division, Toxicology and Molecular Biology Branch, 1095
Willowdale Road, M/S 3014, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. Tel.: +1 304 285 5993;
Fax: +1 304 285 5708; E-mail: yab7@cdc.gov
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease
with strong genetic and occupational components. Although published studies
have described several risk factors for OA, very few studies have investigated
the occupational and genetic factors that contribute to this debilitating condition. OBJECTIVE: To describe occupational and genetic factors that
may contribute to the risk of developing (OA). METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the search terms osteoarthritis,
occupation, work, and genetics. RESULTS: Heavy physical work load was the most common occupational risk factor for OA in several
anatomical locations. Other factors include kneeling and regular stair climbing, crawling, bending
and whole body vibration, and repetitive movements. Numerous studies have also
shown the influence of genetic variability in the pathogenesis of OA. Genetic
variants of several groups of genes e.g., cartilage extracellular matrix
structural genes and the genes related to bone density have been implicated in disease pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: This review shows that occupational
factors were extensively studied in knee OA unlike OA of other anatomical
regions. Although genetic association studies performed to date identified a
number of risk variants, some of these associations have not been consistently
replicated across different studies and populations. Therefore, more research is needed.
