In plain language
In a 2014 survey of 314 interventional cardiologists, about half reported at least one orthopedic injury, mostly of the spine, and about 7% reported limiting their caseload because of radiation exposure. These are self-reported associations.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Survey report, Cross-sectional survey
- Who was studied
- Interventional cardiologists
- Size
- n = 314 survey respondents
- Summary based on
- the abstract
What it found
About half of responding operators reported at least one orthopedic injury.
Key figures: 153 (49.4%)
Lumbar spine problems were the most common, followed by cervical spine disease and lower-limb joint problems.
Key figures: 24.7% cervical, 34.4% lumbar, 19.6% hip/knee/ankle
Some operators had to limit their caseload because of radiation exposure, and some had a health-related absence.
Key figures: 6.9% limited caseload; 9.3% health-related absence
Age was most strongly associated with orthopedic illness.
Key figures: any orthopedic illness χ2= 241.2, P<0.0001
Annual total caseload was associated with slightly higher odds of orthopedic illness.
Key figures: OR per caseload quintile 1.0013 (1.0001, 1.0026)
Limits to keep in mind
Self-reported email survey of Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) members with no stated response rate, so it is open to selection and recall bias. There was no comparison group and the design is cross-sectional; cancer and cataract figures are not detailed in the abstract.
Related research summaries
- Occupational Health Hazards in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: Results of the 2023 SCAI Survey (2025, Cross-sectional survey)
- Radiation Exposure, Training, and Safety in Cardiology (2024, Narrative review)
- Aegrescit medendo: orthopedic disability in electrophysiology, call for fluoroscopy elimination, review and commentary (2022, Editorial or commentary)
- SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Occupational Hazards for Interventional Cardiologists (2006, Editorial or commentary)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract 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.