Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39688540›Full record

SynthesisJournal of occupational health2024

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among various occupational workers in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

SukhDev Mishra, G Avinash, Madan G Kundu, Jyotsna Verma, Ankit Sheth, Abhijit Dutta

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of occupational health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Systematic review of health challenges experienced by Indian women engaged in informal labor.Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

SukhDev MishraDepartment of Biostatistics, Division of Health Sciences, ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.ORCID 0000-0002-0842-1657
G AvinashDepartment of Biostatistics, Division of Health Sciences, ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Madan G KunduDepartment of Biostatistics, Daiichi-Sankyo Inc, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States.
Jyotsna VermaDepartment of Biostatistics, Division of Health Sciences, ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Ankit ShethDivision of Health Sciences, ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Abhijit DuttaResearch Officer (H), International Cooperation Section, Ministry of Ayush, New Delhi, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are among the most common occupational diseases, affecting various sectors such as agriculture, small-scale industries, handicrafts, construction, and banking. These disorders, caused by overexertion and repetitive motion, lead to work absenteeism, productivity loss, and economic impacts. The aim of the study was to determine the magnitude of musculoskeletal disorders among different occupational workers in India.

methodsWe identified studies reporting the prevalence of WMSDs using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire in different databases between 2005 and 2023 through searches on SCOPUS, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar. The required information was then extracted. A random effects model was used to pool estimates of prevalence with 95% CIs. Publication bias was assessed by applying funnel plots.

resultsThe 12-month prevalence of WMSDs was reported across several occupational groups, and the meta or the pooled prevalence was estimated as 0.76 (95% CI, 0.70 to 0.82) along with substantial variability in the prevalence estimates between different industries and studies. The meta-prevalence for low back pain was estimated as 0.60 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.66). The meta-prevalence for neck pain was estimated as 0.40 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.47) whereas for shoulder pain it was estimated as 0.36 (95% CI, 0.30 to 0.42), respectively. The risk of bias was statistically nonsignificant, and overall publication bias was low as per visual inspections from funnel plots.

conclusionsWMSDs are prevalent across various Indian industries in significant proportions, particularly in agriculture, health care, and mining, leading to significant productivity loss and economic impact. The variation in prevalence highlights the need for sector-specific interventions. Addressing WMSDs requires comprehensive ergonomic and policy measures. Effective strategies are essential to mitigate these disorders' widespread impact.

Indexed as

Musculoskeletal DiseasesOccupational DiseasesHumansIndiaLow Back PainNeck PainPrevalenceShoulder Painforest plotfunnel plotlow back painneck painshoulder painWMSDs

Identifiers

PMID39688540
PMCPMC11728104

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.