Citation

Helgesson M, Johansson B, Wernroth L, Vingård E. BMC Public Health 2016; 16(1): e51.

Affiliation

Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Ulleråkersvägen 40, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden. eva.vingard@medsci.uu.se.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12889-015-2679-0

PMID

26792668

PMCID

PMC4719655

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sweden has a public and easily accessible sickness insurance. Research shows, however, downsides to taking sick leave. Both short and longer periods of sick leave have been seen to increase the risk for subsequent work absence. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between sick leave claimed in 1993 and work absence in the subsequent 15 years, i.e. up to 2008. A further aim was to explore differences in this relation with regard to gender, origin and educational level at baseline.

METHODS: Our cohort consisted of all immigrants aged 21-25 years in Sweden in 1993 and a control group of native Swedes in the same age group.

RESULTS: Subsequent work absence increased from 313 days among persons with no days of claimed sick leave in 1993 to 567 days among persons with 1-7 days of claimed sick leave in 1993. Thereafter there was a lower, but steady increase in days of future work absence, to 611 days among persons with 8-14 days of sick leave claimed in 1993. There was an interaction between sick leave and gender, education and origin respectively regarding later work absence.

CONCLUSION: Periods of sick leave claimed were associated with subsequent work absence. Immigrants, women and persons with low education had the most risk of future work absence after a period of sick leave.

Language: en