A study of work-related musculoskeletal case reports to The Health and Occupation Reporting network (THOR) from 2002 to 2003

Background Occupational musculoskeletal disorders are frequently seen by occupational physicians and rheumatologists, and there are well-established UK-based schemes set-up for reporting these conditions. An apparent fall in case reporting for work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Great Britain to The Health and Occupation Reporting network (THOR) was observed from 2002 to 2003. Aims To investigate changes in case reporting for musculoskeletal disorders sent by occupational physicians to Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity (OPRA) and by rheumatologists to Musculoskeletal Occupational Surveillance Scheme (MOSS) between 2002 and 2003. Methods Musculoskeletal cases returned by more than 800 physicians from Great Britain reporting to OPRA and MOSS in 2002 - 2003 were analysed. Changes in reporting are described at individual physician and group levels in: numbers of participants, levels of response, and numbers of case reports by disease category and major occupational and industrial groups. Results In 2002 - 2003, musculoskeletal disease was the most frequently reported major disease category in OPRA. Between 2002 and 2003, the proportion of musculoskeletal case reporting fell by 37% in OPRA, and 7% in MOSS. This fall was seen in many disease categories, across a wide range of occupations and industries. In OPRA, the greatest fall in reporting ( 74%) was for the category Raynaud ' s/Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome/Vibration White Finger. Conclusions The fall in occupational musculoskeletal case reporting between 2002 and 2003 cannot be explained by internal factors within the reporting system. This observation highlights the need for systematic investigation of trends in case reporting for work-related ill-health.