Background: Manual dexterity can be assessed using the Purdue Pegboard test (PPT) and used for staging of hand-arm vibration (HAV) syndrome. Aims: To describe PPT results among HAV-exposed workers and investigate what factors influence the results.
Methods: We recruited workers from companies and an occupational medicine clinic in Sweden. They responded to a survey, underwent neurosensory testing and completed the PPT.
Results: The study recruited 225 workers with a mean (SD) HAV exposure duration of 16.7 (13.4) years. The mean (SD) result of the PPT was 12.8 (2.1) pins for the dominant hand, 12.7 (1.9) pins for the non-dominant hand and 10.6 (1.9) pins for both hands. Older age was consistently associated with poorer results (P < 0.001). Male sex was associated with lower scores for the dominant hand (P = 0.020) but not the non-dominant hand (P = 0.269) or both hands (P = 0.218). Current smoking was associated with poorer results for the dominant hand (P = 0.003) and both hands (P = 0.025), but not the non-dominant hand (P = 0.803). Self-reported reduced manual dexterity was associated with lower scores for the dominant hand (P < 0.001) and both hands (P < 0.001) but not the non-dominant hand (P = 0.070). Reduced two-point discrimination was consistently associated with poorer PPT results (P < 0.001). Low grip strength was associated with lower scores for the non-dominant hand (P = 0.008) and both hands (P = 0.025), but not the dominant hand (P = 0.310).
Conclusions: Researchers noted lower scores on the PPT among older workers, men and smokers. Self-reported reduced manual dexterity, reduced two-point discrimination and low grip strength were also associated with poorer results.