Vibration exposure and myocardial infarction incidence: the VHEEP case–control study

OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of this study were to assess the risk of contracting first episode of myocardial infarction (MI) subsequent to vibration exposure and to assess a possible exposure-response relationship. METHODS: The Västernorrland heart epidemiology programme (VHEEP, a part of the Stockholm heart epidemiology programme study) was the source of the data. VHEEP is a population-based case-control study of risk factors for acute MI. Exposure information was collected by questionnaire and vibration exposure was assessed in 218 cases and 257 controls. Relative risks were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) from binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The results show that the OR of acute MI when exposed to vibration was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1-2.4). It was not possible, however, to determine whether an exposure-response relationship was present. CONCLUSIONS: Working entailing vibrating machines is associated with an increased risk for acute MI.