The Prevalence and Severity of Sick Leave due to Low Back Disorders among Workers in Slovenia: Analysis of National Data across Gender, Age and Classification of Economic Activities

Incidence and Duration of Sick Leave Due to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Accommodation and Food Services Activities Sector in Slovenia: A Nationwide 5-Year Observational Study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze Slovenian data on sick leave (SL) due to the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among workers in sector I "accommodation and food services activities" from the NACE Rev2 classification.

METHODS

We investigated both SL incidence (i.e., number of cases) and disease severity (i.e., average SL duration) by body site, gender, age and divisions within the sector. In addition, trends in SL data (difference between 2015 and 2019) were analyzed. The effect of age group, gender and division was also assessed with relative risk (RR).

RESULTS

Female gender was associated with higher risk of MSDs in young (RR = 1.91 (1.53-2.43)) and older (RR = 2.24 (1.90-2.65)) subgroups. Older age was associated with greater SL incidence and longer SL duration, regardless of gender and division within sector I. This was also reflected in relative risk calculations between older and younger groups (females: RR = 4.43; CI = 3.75-5.01; p < 0.001; males: RR = 3.71; CI = 2.89-4.77; p < 0.001). Low back disorders were the most frequent cause for SL, while lower limb disorders tended to cause the longest average SL. The SL durations were similar across divisions within the sector, while the incidence rate tended to be higher in the "accommodation" than the "food and beverage services" division.

CONCLUSIONS

Special attention needs to be paid to reducing the risk of low back disorders, which are by far the most common cause of SL, and lower limb disorders, which cause the longest SL. We recommend the implementation of countermeasures that focus on early detection and rapid treatment/recovery of MSDs in older workers.

The prevalence and severity of sick-leaves due to musculoskeletal disorders among workers in water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities

The aim of this study was to analyse the nationwide data on sick leaves (SL) due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Slovenian workers in section E "water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities" from NACE Rev2 classification. We report both, SL frequency (ie, number of cases) and SL severity (ie, average SL duration), stratified by body region, gender, age and divisions within the section. In addition, trends in SL data (year 2015-2019 difference) were analyzed. Throughout the analysed years, ∼9,000 workers were employed in the section, with male to female ratio at ∼ 4:1. The major findings are as follows: (i) low back disorders were by far the most prevalent, however, the mean SL duration was the highest for lower limb disorders; (ii) older age was associated with increased SL frequency and duration, irrespective of gender; (iii) male gender was consistently associated with larger SL duration, while the data on SL frequency is inconclusive, as older females had more frequent SL than older males; (iv) the effect of division was relatively minor and the comparisons are limited due to large discrepancies regarding the number of workers across divisions; (v) a slight increasing trend for both SL frequency and duration was observed from 2015 to 2019. In conclusion, particular attention in terms of early diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders should be given to male workers and older workers in general in section E.

Sick Leave Patterns in Common Rheumatological Diseases

Objectives The study aims to analyze the patterns and determinants of sick leaves (SL) associated with the most common rheumatological diseases and estimate the associated productivity loss cost (PLC). Method A retrospective study reviewed all SLs that were issued from a rheumatology outpatient clinic between 2016 and 2019 for the following diagnoses: low back pain (LBP), knee osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and disc disorders. The duration of each sick leave was captured and analyzed by patients' age category, gender, and diagnosis. The human capital method was used to estimate the PLC. Result One thousand and two SLs have been issued during the study period, for a cumulative 4,649 days. The majority of the patients were female (86.3%), and the mean (SD) age was 42.01 (10.71) years. SL durations ranged from 2 to 14 days. The most frequent diagnosis was RA (34.3%), followed by LBP (30.1%). Disc disorder, knee OA, and RA were independently associated with 2.01 (p=0.014), 9.07 (p<0.001), and 7.75 (p<0.001) odd ratios for long SL (≥7 days), by reference to LBP. The average PLC was estimated at $235.29 per day of sick leave, for a total cumulative cost of $235,755.30. Conclusion Rheumatological diseases are responsible for approximately 4.5 days of SL prescribing per day in our clinic, with an average yearly cost of $58,938.83. Monitoring the pattern of sick leave and identifying the interplay between their cofactors are essential to developing a comprehensive approach to enable evidence-based clinical practices along with advancements in work-based protective measures and policies.