Editorial & Opinion
Beyond the numbers: rethinking evidence in pooled analyses of hand-arm vibration syndrome.
| Τίτλος: | Beyond the numbers: rethinking evidence in pooled analyses of hand-arm vibration syndrome. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | Iftikhar MK; Islamic International Medical College, Riphah International University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. muhammadkhubaib39619@gmail.com., Khan A; Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan. |
| Πηγή: | International archives of occupational and environmental health [Int Arch Occup Environ Health] 2025 Dec; Vol. 98 (9-10), pp. 943-944. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 18. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Letter |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Springer-Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 7512134 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1246 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03400131 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Berlin, New York : Springer-Verlag. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome*/epidemiology , Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome*/etiology , Occupational Diseases*/epidemiology , Occupational Exposure*/adverse effects, Vibration/adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Sex Factors |
| Περίληψη: | Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) continues to weigh heavily on workers’ health, yet how we study it often limits what we learn. Bovenzi et al. make an important contribution by pooling Italian datasets, but the heavy reliance on cross-sectional designs restricts causal insight. Inconsistent exposure metrics, varied outcome definitions, and limited adjustment for confounders risk blurring the true picture of vibration-related harm. The continued use of the ISO 5349-1 standard, despite questions about its accuracy, further complicates interpretation. Perhaps most concerning is the underrepresentation of women, leaving gender differences in susceptibility largely unexplored. To move the field forward, HAVS research needs more than bigger datasets—it needs standardized definitions, better exposure models, stronger adjustment for confounders, and, crucially, prospective cohort studies. Only then can we deliver evidence that truly shapes occupational health policy and prevention. |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethical approval: Not applicable. |
| References: | Bovenzi M, Ronchese F, Larese Filon F, Marchetti E, Tirabasso A, Massotti C, Tarabini M (2025) The role of personal risk factors in the occurrence of the hand-arm vibration syndrome: a pooled analysis of individual data from Italian cross-sectional and cohort studies. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 98(8):757–774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02169-0. (PMID: 10.1007/s00420-025-02169-0) Gerger H, Søgaard K, Macri EM, Jackson JA, Elbers RG, van Rijn RM, Koes B, Chiarotto A, Burdorf A (2023) Exposure to hand-arm vibrations in the workplace and the occurrence of hand-arm vibration syndrome, Dupuytren’s contracture, and hypothenar hammer syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Occup Environ Hyg 20(7):257–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2023.2197634. (PMID: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2197634) Mathieu S, Naughton G, Descatha A, Soubrier M, Dutheil F (2020) Dupuytren’s disease and exposure to vibration: systematic review and meta-analysis. Joint Bone Spine 87(3):203–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2020.02.001 . (PMID: 32061740). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2020.02.001) Nilsson T, Wahlström J, Burström L (2017) Hand-arm vibration and the risk of vascular and neurological diseases-a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 12(7):e0180795. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180795. (PMID: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180795) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Confounder adjustment; Cross-sectional vs. cohort; Evidence translation; Exposure metrics; Gender disparities; Hand-arm vibration syndrome; ISO 5349-1; Methodological bias; Occupational health |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251118 Date Completed: 20260626 Latest Revision: 20260728 |
| Update Code: | 20260728 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00420-025-02187-y |
| PMID: | 41251730 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
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