SYDNEY: Managers are less likely to have cancer, while shop assistants have a greater chance of suffering back pain and nurses have a higher rate of heart disease, according to a new Australian study.

The survey, which is published on Monday in the Medical Journal of Australia, analysed the records of more than 4,200 workers aged between 45 and 64 and found that about two-thirds had a medical condition.

It found that older workers with chronic conditions were more likely to be employed in certain industries such as retail, and health and community services, researcher Deborah Schofield said.

“In the retail trade there was a significantly higher risk of musculoskeletal conditions, so that’s things like back injuries, or if you’ve injured your shoulder or arthritis,” she said.

“And then cardiovascular disease came out significantly higher in health and community services.” Schofield said that these findings jarred with the expectation that more muscle or bone injuries would be among construction workers or those in the transport, forestry or agriculture sectors where heavy lifting was required.

“But, in fact, the reverse is what we found,” she said. “What we think happens is that retail, being part-time and not too heavy an occupation, that people, if they have those sort of injuries, (it means) they can remain in the workforce,” she said.—AFP