Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties and changes in many aspects of people’s health and lives. Although infection affected work capacity, during the first wave policies for sick leave due to COVID-19 were unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of si...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15115-x |
| _version_ | 1811175700535705600 |
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| author | Tamar Abzhandadze Emma Westerlind Hanna C. Persson |
| author_facet | Tamar Abzhandadze Emma Westerlind Hanna C. Persson |
| author_sort | Tamar Abzhandadze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties and changes in many aspects of people’s health and lives. Although infection affected work capacity, during the first wave policies for sick leave due to COVID-19 were unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of sick leave diagnoses in the year before the COVID-19 diagnosis on sick leave duration due to COVID-19 in a nationwide non-hospitalised population. Methods Data from three Swedish registries were analysed for sick leave commencing between 1 March and 31 August 2020, with a follow-up period of 4 months. Sick leave due to COVID-19 was considered the number of days that sickness benefits were used and included at least one registered COVID-19 diagnosis. Sick leave in the year before COVID-19 diagnosis were categorised into five diagnostic groups and one reference group (participants without prior sick leave). Results The study comprised 8935 individuals who received sickness benefits due to COVID-19 in Sweden during the first pandemic wave (mean age 46.7 years, 67% females, and 24% had diagnoses for sick leave in the year before COVID-19 diagnosis). The duration of sick leave due to COVID-19 was significantly higher in the groups with prior sick leave owing to musculoskeletal system diseases (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.15); respiratory system diseases (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14–1.31); all other isolated diagnoses (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03–1.14); and multiple diagnoses (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.21–1.43). Conclusions The results of this nationwide registry-based study indicate that individuals with premorbid conditions are more prone to longer sick leave durations due to COVID-19. Prediction of sick leave duration during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is complex and several factors played a role. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:40:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9673a4ef4f394526ae2d222425a76727 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:40:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9673a4ef4f394526ae2d222425a767272023-01-29T12:23:40ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-01-0123111110.1186/s12889-023-15115-xImpact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based studyTamar Abzhandadze0Emma Westerlind1Hanna C. Persson2Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties and changes in many aspects of people’s health and lives. Although infection affected work capacity, during the first wave policies for sick leave due to COVID-19 were unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of sick leave diagnoses in the year before the COVID-19 diagnosis on sick leave duration due to COVID-19 in a nationwide non-hospitalised population. Methods Data from three Swedish registries were analysed for sick leave commencing between 1 March and 31 August 2020, with a follow-up period of 4 months. Sick leave due to COVID-19 was considered the number of days that sickness benefits were used and included at least one registered COVID-19 diagnosis. Sick leave in the year before COVID-19 diagnosis were categorised into five diagnostic groups and one reference group (participants without prior sick leave). Results The study comprised 8935 individuals who received sickness benefits due to COVID-19 in Sweden during the first pandemic wave (mean age 46.7 years, 67% females, and 24% had diagnoses for sick leave in the year before COVID-19 diagnosis). The duration of sick leave due to COVID-19 was significantly higher in the groups with prior sick leave owing to musculoskeletal system diseases (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.15); respiratory system diseases (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14–1.31); all other isolated diagnoses (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03–1.14); and multiple diagnoses (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.21–1.43). Conclusions The results of this nationwide registry-based study indicate that individuals with premorbid conditions are more prone to longer sick leave durations due to COVID-19. Prediction of sick leave duration during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is complex and several factors played a role.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15115-xEpidemiologyReturn to workSick leaveRegistry-based studySARS-CoV-2 infection |
| spellingShingle | Tamar Abzhandadze Emma Westerlind Hanna C. Persson Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study BMC Public Health Epidemiology Return to work Sick leave Registry-based study SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| title | Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study |
| title_full | Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study |
| title_fullStr | Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study |
| title_short | Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study |
| title_sort | impact of pre pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of covid 19 related sick leave a nationwide registry based study |
| topic | Epidemiology Return to work Sick leave Registry-based study SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15115-x |
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