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Med. Pr. 2007;58(5):375-392

CERTAIN SICKNESS ABSENCE FACTORS AMONG WORKERS OLDER THAN 45 YEARS

NIEKTÓRE UWARUNKOWANIA ABSENCJI CHOROBOWEJ OSÓB POWYŻEJ 45. ROKU ŻYCIA

Zuzanna Szubert, Wojciech Sobala

Abstract

Background: Along with many other factors, such as demographic features of a given population, working conditions, psychosocial, social and cultural factors, socioeconomic transformation and labor market situation exert their effects on health conditions of workers and also on sickness absence. The aim of the study was to highlight major determinants, including non-health determinants, which shape the sickness absence among persons older than 45 years. Material and Methods: The study was carried out ina group of workers aged over 45 years, but before reaching the age of retirement who were employed in the production and production-related sectors in the years 1996ś2000. Individual Sickness Absence Cards (ISAC) and the questionnaire śHealth-related and socioeconomic determinants of early retirement among workers at the age of work capabilityś were used to collect the empirical material. The material was analyzed using Cox regression, separately for short-term (4ś14 days) and long-term (longer than 14days) sickness absence cases, to calculate hazard ratio (HR). Results: The analysis based on a multi-factor model of the short-term sickness absence risk showed the effect of the following variables on the aforementioned risk: too heavy physical work (HR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.24ś2.18), low self-assessment of oneśs own health (HR = 1.65; 95% CI: 0.96ś1.45), and frequent (at least once a month) beer drinking (HR = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.96ś1.38). The risk of long-term sickness absence was increased for health-related variables, such as occurrence of 2ś3 chronic diseases (HR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.05ś3.30), occurrence of 4 or more diseases (HR = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.43ś4.92), and smoking (HR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.11ś1.98). Conclusions: The results of the study may become an important signal for undertaking preventive activities to improve working conditions for older physical workers, as well as for improving health and work ability in this group of workers. Med Pr 2007;58(5):375ś392

Key words

sickness absence, pre-retirement age, working conditions