Article

Occupational injuries and medication use

  1. Timothy M. Gilmore MD1,*,
  2. Bruce H. Alexander PhD2,3,
  3. Beth A. Mueller DrPH2,4,
  4. Frederick P. Rivara MD, MPH2,3

Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199608)30:2<234::AID-AJIM16>3.0.CO;2-Y

Issue

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Volume 30, Issue 2, pages 234–239, August 1996

Additional Information

How to Cite

Gilmore, T. M., Alexander, B. H., Mueller, B. A. and Rivara, F. P. (1996), Occupational injuries and medication use. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 30: 234–239. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199608)30:2<234::AID-AJIM16>3.0.CO;2-Y

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Occupational Medicine, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Seattle, WA

  2. 2

    Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA

  3. 3

    Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  4. 4

    Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

*Department of Occupational Medicine, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, 200 15th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 DEC 1998
  2. Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 16 OCT 1995

Funded by

  • Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies
  • Centers for Disease Control. Grant Number: R49-CCR002570
  • NIEHS Training Grant. Grant Number: T32-ES07262

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Keywords:

  • occupational injures;
  • medication;
  • case-control studies;
  • workers' compensation

Abstract

Recent medication use of 3,394 members of the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC) diagnosed with an incident work-related injury was compared to that of two controls selected from the GHC membership and matched on age, gender, and Standard Industrial Classification Code of their employer. Medication use was determined from the GHC pharmacy data base. The injuries of the cases included 496 fractures or dislocations, 2, 728 open wounds, crushing injuries, or superficial injuries, 176 burns, and 64 internal or intracranial injuries. The risk of injury was elevated among users of antihistamines [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-1.9], antibiotics (OR = 1.2, 95C% Cl = 1.0-1.5), and diabetes medications (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.9-1.9). The patterns of risk were similar for males and females, but varied by type of injury. No consistent associations between use of antidepressants, antianxiety medication, or narcotics and work-relaled injury were observed. The use of some medications, or conditions requiring medications, may contribute to the risk of a work-related injury. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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