Table 2 Effect sizes of occupational exposure to develop HOA among different subgroups

Agriculture and forestry

All studies

12

2.81 (2.22–3.55)^a

90%

Disability pension due to HOA

3

3.96 (1.36–11.51)^a

73%

p = 0.72

THR, no information on disability pension reported

3

2.41 (1.45–4.00)^a

91%

Diagnosis, but no THR

6

2.60 (1.81–3.72)^a

92%

Cohort studies

6

2.67 (2.01–3.55)^a

95%

p = 0.51

Case–control studies

6

3.24 (1.96–5.37)^a

61%

Construction worker

All studies

9

1.64 (1.28–2.09)

49%

Disability pension due to HOA

3

2.79 (1.36–5.72)

59%

p = 0.12

THR, no information on disability pension reported

2

1.31 (1.02–1.70)

38%

Diagnosis, but no THR

4

1.60 (1.36–1.87)

0%

Cohort studies

5

1.55 (1.34–1.78)

0%

p = 0.54

Case–control studies

4

1.92 (0.97–3.77)^a

73%

Driving vehicles with whole body vibration

All studies

8

1.52 (1.11–2.08)^a

72%

Disability pension due to HOA

2

2.35 (0.85–6.49)^a

67%

p = 0.18

THR, no information on disability pension reported

3

1.12 (0.78–1.59)

51%

Diagnosis, but no THR

3

1.68 (1.15–2.45)

50%

Cohort studies

5

1.42 (0.92–2.21)^a

79%

p = 0.32

Case–control studies

3

1.87 (1.39–2.52)

3%

Metal work

All studies

6

1.54 (1.21–1.97)

37%

Disability pension due to HOA

3

1.83 (1.15–2.90)

0%

p = 0.28

THR, no information on disability pension reported

1

1.10 (0.67–1.80)

-

Diagnosis, but no THR

2

1.72 (1.10–2.68)

22%

Cohort studies

4

1.42 (1.08–1.87)

0%

p = 0.21

Case–Control studies

2

2.09 (1.23–3.56)

0%

Sales

All studies

5

1.50 (1.01–2.24)^b

38%

Comparable physical demanding occupations

4

1.50 (0.82–2.75)

51%

p = 0.83

Heterogeneous physical demanding occupations

1

1.39 (0.95–2.03)

-

Disability pension due to HOA

1

2.35 (1.19–4.66)

-

 p = 0.33

THR, no information on disability pension reported

2

1.77 (1.00–3.16)

0%

Diagnosis, but no THR

2

0.96 (0.37–2.51)^c

65%

Cohort studies

2

1.67 (1.02–2.72)

42%

p = 0.51

Case–Control Studies

3

1.21 (0.54–2.70)

56%

Gastronomy

All studies

4

1.44 (0.78–2.66)^c

63%

Cohort studies

3

1.70 (0.92–3.15)^a

63%

p = 0.13

Case–Control Studies

1

0.60 (0.18–2.02)

-

Storage and transportation

All studies

3

2.09 (0.88–4.96)

0%

Cohort study

1

0.92 (0.12–6.99)

-

p = 0.51

Case–Control-Studies

2

2.50 (0.96–6.52)

0%

Food production

All studies

4

2.13 (1.53–2.95)^b

0%

Comparable physical demanding occupations

3

2.22 (1.39–3.54)

0%

P = 1.00

Less physical demanding occupations in construction

1

2.04 (1.28–3.24)

-

Cohort study

2

2.10 (1.48–2.96)^b

0%

p = 0.84

Case–Control-Studies

2

2.40 (0.64–8.97)

37%

Health care

All studies (only cohort studies)

3

1.21 (0.51–2.88)^c

88%

Unskilled or basic level labours

All studies

3

1.89 (1.29–2.77)

34%

Cohort studies

2

2.15 (1.31–3.54)

46%

p = 0.28

Case–Control Studies

1

1.4 (0.77–2.56)

-