An assessment of the effects of exposure to vibration, smoking, alcohol and diabetes on the prevalence of Dupuytren's disease in 97,537 miners

J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2007 Aug;32(4):400-6. doi: 10.1016/J.JHSE.2005.02.002. Epub 2007 May 25.

Abstract

A consecutive sample of 97,537 miners seeking compensation for Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome were examined in a medical assessment process which included documentation of age, hand dominance, Dupuytren's disease, years of vibration exposure, history of diabetes, smoking habits and units of alcohol consumption per week. The prime determinant of prevalence of Dupuytren's disease was age, and all other factors investigated were corrected for age. There was no statistically significant correlation between years of exposure to vibration and the prevalence of Dupuytren's disease. There was a statistically significant association with smoking, alcohol consumption and diabetes mellitus, with the heaviest smokers having an odds ratio (OR) of 1.31 (95% CI, 1.17, 1.47), the heaviest drinkers (in excess of 22 units a week) having an OR of 1.59 (95% CI, 1.47, 1.72) and diabetes mellitus patients having an increase in the odds of having Dupuytren's disease of 1.52 (95% CI 1.30, 1.77).

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects*
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology
  • Dupuytren Contracture / epidemiology
  • Dupuytren Contracture / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mining*
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects*
  • United Kingdom
  • Vibration / adverse effects*