BACKGROUND: Back pain has long been identified as a major occupational health issue, but there are few prevalence studies on thoracic spine pain (TSP). The epidemiological surveillance of musculoskeletal disorders implemented in 2002 by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance in the Pays de la Loire region provided the opportunity to study the prevalence of TSP in a large, representative sample of workers.

AIMS: To assess the prevalence of TSP across a week in a regional workforce according to age, occupational category and industry sector in men and women separately.

METHODS: A random sample of workers aged 20-59 years, representative of the regional workforce, was constituted between 2002 and 2005. Medical and occupational data were gathered by questionnaire.

RESULTS: The sample consisted of 3710 workers (58% men). The prevalence of TSP was higher in women (17%) than in men (9%). Lower grade male white-collar workers were more likely to report TSP (17%) than male workers in other occupational categories, whereas upper grade female white-collar and professional workers were more likely to report TSP. No significant difference in the prevalence of TSP was noted in either men or women according to industry sector.

CONCLUSIONS: Although TSP is less frequent than low back and neck pain, the results of this study indicate that 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women suffer from TSP.