The influence of physical strain related to occupation on radiological signs of hip osteoarthritis (OA) was investigated. Population sample of Zagreb, 295 men and 298 women, older than 45 years were included. According to physical demand related to their occupation, subjects were classified into 4 groups. Clinical and radiological signs of hip OA were evaluated. The association between hip OA and occupation was analysed using logistic regression. Radiological sings of hip osteoarthritis were more common, but not significantly, in subjects who had worked predominantly in the standing position - category 2 ( Odds 1.45 for men ; Odds 1.50 for women). Clinical signs of the OA were significantly associated also with jobs in the standing position in women (Odds 3.00 ), but in men clinical signs were significantly associated with jobs with high physical demand (Odds 2.19). We found a tendency of increasing risk with increasing duration of job, in each job category. Occupation did not appear to influence the development of radiological osteoarthritis. We noticed some relation between hip osteoarthritis and occupations with prolonged standing.

Kliničke medicinske znanosti