Risk factors of acute and overuse musculoskeletal injuries among young conscripts: a population-based cohort study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of 1411 male conscripts by company

Variable	Anti-tank	Signal	Mortar	Engineer	Missing	P-value¹
Number of conscripts	263	540	363	245	0 (0%)	-
Age, median, years	19	19	19	19	0 (0%)	0.422 ²
Body mass index, median, kg/m²	23.4	22.6	23.3	23.6	139 (10%)	0.003 ²
Waist circumference, median, cm	87.0	84.9	85.6	87.0	101 (7%)	0.001 ²
12-minute run test result, median, m	2310	2308	2500	2400	42 (3%)	<0.001 ²
Conscript’s physical fitness index (CPFI)⁴, median, points	15.05	14.75	17.00	15.50	46 (3%)	<0.001 ²
Hometown population ≥ 10,000 persons,%	59%	66%	59%	57%	24 (2%)	0.044 ³
High level of education⁵,%	48%	38%	49%	35%	22 (2%)	<0.001 ³
High level of previous physical activity⁶,%	31%	24%	42%	36%	23 (2%)	<0.001 ³
Good self-assessed health⁷,%	57%	47%	61%	51%	22 (2%)	<0.001 ³
Chronic impairment or disability,%	17%	15%	16%	17%	27 (2%)	0.802 ³
Clear musculoskeletal symptoms⁸,%	28%	32%	26%	27%	23 (2%)	0.339 ³
Previous or current regular smoker, %	43%	47%	44%	57%	26 (2%)	0.004 ³
Use of alcohol ≥ 3 times per week, %	16%	19%	15%	20%	23 (2%)	0.318 ³

¹P-value for difference between the companies.
²P-value was calculated using a Kruskal-Wallis test for median difference.
³P-value was calculated using χ2 statistics for difference.
⁴CPFI = (12-min running test result (metres) + 100 × muscle fitness test points) / 200, [Excellent (CPFI ≥ 21.00), Good (17.00 ≤ CPFI < 21.00), Fair good (13.00 ≤ CPFI < 17.00), Poor (CPFI < 13.00)].
⁵Graduated or studies in higher education institution.
⁶Sweating exercise at least three times per week during the last month before entering the military.
⁷Compared to age-mates.
⁸Symptoms lasting more than 7 days in at least one anatomical region during the last month before entering the military.

ISSN: 1471-2474