In plain language
In 11 self-report surveys of interventional and procedural physicians, women reported musculoskeletal disorders more often than men (72% vs 46.6%), possibly more in the upper limbs, though several studies found no sex difference.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Systematic review or meta-analysis, Systematic review
- Who was studied
- Interventional radiologists, Interventional cardiologists, Electrophysiologists, Vascular surgeons, Orthopedic surgeons, Other surgeons, Gastroenterologists
- Size
- n = 11 studies
- Topics
- Musculoskeletal injury and ergonomicsWomen in the fieldPregnancy and reproductive healthTraining and educationPersonal protective equipment
- Summary based on
- the full text
What it found
Women reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders more often than men across six studies with sex-specific data.
Key figures: 72% vs 46.6%
Two studies found female sex associated with higher risk of severe WMSDs.
Key figures: Odds ratio (OR) 3.35; P < 0.001 and OR 2.443; P = 0.018
Women were poorly represented among survey respondents in the included studies.
Key figures: 25.7% (1278/4956)
Five studies found no statistical difference in WMSD prevalence between sexes, so whether women have greater risk is uncertain.
Women may have more upper extremity pain while men report more spinal pain; men attributed back pain to lead aprons more often in one endoscopy study.
Limits to keep in mind
All included studies were voluntary self-report surveys with heterogeneous questionnaires and low female response, and most were not from fluoroscopy-specific interventional radiology (IR) settings; pooling was simple averaging without formal meta-analysis.
Related research summaries
- SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Increasing Awareness and Reducing Occupational Hazards in the Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Laboratories: Working to Eliminate Lead and Complications of Radiation in Cardiovascular Team Study (2026, Cross-sectional survey)
- SCAI/ASE/HRS/SIR/SVS Expert Consensus Statement on Enhanced Radiation Protection: Time for Mandatory and Urgent Action (2026, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Radiation Exposure, Training, and Safety in Cardiology (2024, Narrative review)
- Occupational Protection in Interventional Radiology. A Joint Guideline of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe and the Society of Interventional Radiology (2026, Guideline or consensus statement)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the full text of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.