Hio Teng Leong, Sai Chuen Fu, Xin He, Joo Han Oh, Nobuyuki Yamamoto, Shu Hang Patrick Yung
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NA Hong Kong, Hong Kong. E-mail: annieleonght@cuhk.edu.hk
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2598

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify risk and associated factors for symptomatic rotator cuff tendinopathy.
Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus were searched from inception to June 2017.
Study selection: Participants presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of rotator cuff tendinopathy/tendinosis/tendinitis, shoulder impingement syndrome, or subacromial bursitis diagnosed by clinical tests and/or conventional imaging.
Data extraction: Screening, quality assessment and data extraction were carried out by 2 reviewers.
Data synthesis: Sixteen studies were included in this review. Overall, 22 factors were identified and 5 factors were explored using meta-analysis. Pooled analyses provided strong evidence that age above 50 years (odds ratio (OR)?=?3. 31, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)?=?2. 30–4. 76, I2?=?0%, p? Conclusion: Age above 50 years, diabetes and overhead activities were associated with increased risk of rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Rotator cuff tendinopathy is one of the common causes of shoulder pain. Successful treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy remains challenging; thus, it is essential to identify risk and associated factors of rotator cuff tendinopathy in order to develop prevention interventions. The current review included 16 studies, and overall 22 factors were identified. Pooled analyses showed age above 50 years, diabetes and performing overhead activities were associated with increased risk of rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Table III