Abstract
Physicians in Taiwan have long working hours and are at risk for inappropriate posture when handling patients, which may contribute to lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (L-HIVD). This study was conducted to delineate this issue, which is still unknown. This nationwide population-based cohort study was based on Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We identified 25,428 physicians, 32,316 nonphysician health care professionals (HCPs), and an identical number of age- and sex-matched individuals from the general population. All individuals who had L-HIVD before 2007 were excluded. We compared the L-HIVD risk between physicians and general population, nonphysician HCPs and general population, and physicians and nonphysician HCPs by tracing their medical histories between 2007 and 2011. A comparison among physician specialties was also performed. Physicians and nonphysician HCPs had higher L-HIVD risk than the general population [odds ratio (OR): 1.149; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.011-1.307 and OR: 1.220; 95% CI: 1.080-1.378, respectively]. Physicians did not have higher L-HIVD risk than nonphysician HCPs [adjusted OR (AOR): 0.912; 95% CI: 0.795-1.046]. Physician specialties of orthopedics and obstetrics and gynecology had a trend of higher L-HIVD risk than other specialties (AOR: 1.538; 95% CI: 0.805-2.939, and AOR: 1.306; 95% CI: 0.967-1.764, respectively). Physicians as well as nonphysician health care professionals in Taiwan have higher L-HIVD risk than the general population, which could be attributed to a probable role of long working hours. This result provides an important reference for the government to promote occupational health in health care professionals; however, further studies are warranted for the underlying mechanisms.