Self-reported health problems and sickness absence in different age groups predominantly engaged in physical work

Abstract

Objectives: To study the associations between self-reported health problems and sickness absence from work. Methods: The results of a questionnaire survey were combined with archival data of sickness absence of 1341 employees (88% males; 62% blue-collar) in the construction, service and maintenance work within one corporation in Finland. Sex, age and occupational grading were controlled as confounders. A zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression model was used in the statistical analysis of sickness absence data. Results: The prevalence of self-reported health problems increased with age, from 23% in 18-30-year-olds to 54% in 55-61-year-olds. However, in those aged 18-30 years, 71% had been absent from work and in those aged 55-61 years this proportion was 53%. When health problems and occupational grading were accounted for in the ZINB model, age as such was not associated with the number of days on sick leave, but the young workers still had higher propensity for (any) sickness absence than the old. Self-rated future working ability and musculoskeletal impairment were strong determinants of sickness absence. Among those susceptible to taking sick leave, the estimated mean number of absence days increased by 14% for each rise of 1 unit of the impairment score (scale 0-10). Conclusions: Young subjects had surprisingly high probability for sickness absence although they reported better health than their older colleagues. A higher total count of absence days was found among subjects reporting health problems and poorer working ability, regardless of age, sex and occupational grade. These findings have implications for both management and the healthcare system in the prevention of work disability. S ickness absence means non-attendance by an employee at work due to a (certified) health complaint when the employer expects attendance. Despite the straightforward definition, sickness absence has proved to be a complex phenomenon. In addition to illness, it has been associated with, for example, demographical and socioeconomic factors, organisational features, job content and attitudes to work.1 The key psychosocial predictors of sickness absence include individuals' own perceptions of health and working ability. It is a common belief that older (supposedly in poorer health) employees are more absent from work than their younger (supposedly healthier) colleagues.4 5 However, the young seem to stay out of work due to minor health complaints more than older workers. Also some earlier studies have found that older age increases the risk of overall sickness absences, but decreases that of one-day absences. 6 We investigated how age and self-reported health problems are associated with sickness absence within a cohort predominantly employed in physical work. METHODS Study design and ethicsThe design was cross-sectional: data from questionnaires were combined with records of demographics and sickness absence from the employer's salary register. The Helsinki University Research Ethics Board approved the study, and it ...

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