Body mass index and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level as risk factors for injuries related to professional horse racing: a prospective study.
Abstract: Prevention of horse-related injuries is considered difficult because horse behavior is unpredictable. Therefore, risk factors for injuries related to professional horse racing need to be investigated. We conducted a study to determine whether body mass index (BMI) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels are associated with professional horse racing-related injuries. Methods: A baseline healthy survey of 546 male grooms and exercise riders aged 40-70 yr working at Miho Training Center, the largest racing-horse training facility in Japan, was performed in May 2003. A total of 93 occupational injuries occurred from June 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine associations between the risk of injury and BMI and GGT. Results: Grooms and exercise riders with BMI or =25 kg/m2 compared to BMI=20.0-22.9 kg/m(2) had 2.5 to 3.5-fold higher age-adjusted risks of injuries. The multivariate hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) after adjustment for age, GGT, smoking habit, and history of injuries were 3.5 (1.5 to 8.4) and 2.4 (1.2 to 4.8) for grooms, 3.1 (1.2 to 8.2) and 1.9 (0.4 to 10.1) for exercise riders, respectively. The age-adjusted hazard ratio of injuries for persons with GGT > or =100 IU/l was 2.0 to 2.5-fold higher than for those with GGT <60 IU/l. The multivariate hazard ratios were 1.9 (1.0 to 3.6) for grooms and 2.5 (1.0 to 6.2) for exercise riders. Conclusions: Low and high BMI and high GGT were associated with professional horse racing-related injuries.
Publication Date: 2009-06-01 PubMed ID: 19483366DOI: 10.1539/joh.l8158Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explored the correlation between the body mass index (BMI) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels and their possible impact on the risk of injuries in professional horse racing. The study found that individuals with a low or high BMI and high GGT were more likely to suffer horse racing-related injuries.
Methodology
- The study was conducted at Miho Training Center in Japan, a major horse training facility. It involved 546 male grooms and exercise riders between the ages of 40 to 70 years.
- A baseline health survey was carried out in May 2003 to establish the participants’ BMI and GGT.
- The researchers recorded a total of 93 occupational injuries from June 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005.
- The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the possible link between injury risk and both GGT and BMI.
Results
- The results showed that grooms and exercise riders with a BMI under 20 kg/m2 or over 25 kg/m2, compared to those with a BMI between 20.0-22.9 kg/m2, had a 2.5 to 3.5 times higher risk of injuries, even after adjusting for age.
- When factors such as age, GGT, smoking habit, and history of injuries were adjusted, the multivariate hazard ratio increased significantly, specifically to 3.5 and 2.4 for grooms and 3.1 and 1.9 for exercise riders.
- The risk of injury for individuals with a GGT of 100 IU/l or higher was 2.0 to 2.5 times greater than for those with a GGT under 60 IU/l. The multivariate hazard ratios were 1.9 for grooms and 2.5 for exercise riders.
Conclusions
- After analyzing the data, the study concluded that individuals working in professional horse racing with low or high BMI and high GGT face a higher risk of injuries.
- The research suggests that monitoring BMI and GGT in horse racing professionals could be helpful in reducing the possibility of injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Tobari H, Yamagishi K, Noda H, Tanigawa T, Iso H.
(2009).
Body mass index and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level as risk factors for injuries related to professional horse racing: a prospective study.
J Occup Health, 51(4), 323-331.
https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.l8158 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Doctoral Programs in Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan. h-tobari@umin.ac.jp
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Aged
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / blood
- Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
- Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
- Body Mass Index
- Horses
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Physical Examination
- Proportional Hazards Models
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- gamma-Glutamyltransferase / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Hitchens P, Blizzard L, Jones G, Day L, Fell J. Are physiological attributes of jockeys predictors of falls? A pilot study.. BMJ Open 2011 Jun 23;1(1):e000142.
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