Work-Related Exposures and Sickness Absence Trajectories: A Nationally Representative Follow-up Study among Finnish Working-Aged People
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Participants
2.2. Ethical Approvals
2.3. Physical Work-Related Exposures
2.4. Register Data
2.5. Covariates
2.6. Statistical Analyses
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. Main Findings
4.2. Interpretation
4.3. Methodological Considerations
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Background Characteristics | All | Low | Slowly Increasing | High | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 3814 | N = 2083 | % | N = 1287 | % | N = 444 | % | |
Gender, men | 1791 | 1062 | 50.1 | 574 | 44.6 | 155 | 34.9 |
Marital status, single (vs. married/co-habiting) | 857 | 472 | 22.7 | 277 | 21.5 | 108 | 24.3 |
Basic education | |||||||
high (> 13 years) | 1831 | 1102 | 52.9 | 580 | 45.1 | 149 | 33.6 |
intermediate (10−12 years) | 1233 | 613 | 29.4 | 449 | 34.8 | 171 | 38.5 |
low (<9 years) | 750 | 368 | 17.7 | 258 | 20.1 | 124 | 27.9 |
Body mass index | |||||||
≤24.9 (normal) | 1646 | 969 | 46.5 | 534 | 41.5 | 143 | 32.2 |
25−29.9, (overweight) | 1479 | 812 | 39.0 | 489 | 38.0 | 178 | 40.1 |
≥30 (obese) | 689 | 302 | 14.5 | 264 | 20.5 | 123 | 27.7 |
Daily smoking, yes | 999 | 478 | 23.0 | 363 | 28.2 | 158 | 35.6 |
Alcohol dependence, yes | 188 | 91 | 4.4 | 62 | 4.8 | 35 | 7.9 |
Leisure time physical activity, passive | 936 | 495 | 23.8 | 303 | 23.5 | 138 | 31.1 |
Sleep problems, yes | 2116 | 1068 | 51.3 | 741 | 57.6 | 307 | 69.1 |
Job strain, yes | 552 | 263 | 12.6 | 196 | 15.2 | 93 | 21.0 |
Social support at work, low | 1358 | 723 | 34.7 | 468 | 36.4 | 167 | 37.6 |
Musculoskeletal disorders, yes | 1091 | 472 | 22.7 | 416 | 32.3 | 203 | 45.7 |
Mental disorders, yes | 314 | 124 | 6.0 | 129 | 10.0 | 61 | 13.7 |
Any other diseases, yes | 1361 | 662 | 31.8 | 481 | 37.4 | 218 | 49.1 |
Physically Demanding Work Factors | All | Low | Slowly Increasing | High | Full Model * | Full Model * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trajectory Slowly Increasing vs. Low | Trajectory High vs. Low | |||||||
Reference = 1 | N | N | N | N | OR α | 95% CI β | OR α | 95% CI β |
Physical exposure in years | ||||||||
Prolonged sitting | ||||||||
0 | 2411 | 1240 | 858 | 313 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 876 | 566 | 247 | 63 | 0.66 | 0.55−0.80 | 0.48 | 0.36−0.66 |
>15 | 527 | 277 | 182 | 68 | 0.86 | 0.69−1.07 | 0.86 | 0.62−1.18 |
Prolonged keyboard use | ||||||||
0 | 2766 | 1469 | 951 | 346 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 674 | 416 | 205 | 53 | 0.78 | 0.64−0.95 | 0.55 | 0.40−0.77 |
>15 | 374 | 198 | 131 | 45 | 0.91 | 0.71−1.17 | 0.81 | 0.56−1.18 |
Prolonged standing or walking | ||||||||
0 | 2102 | 1249 | 664 | 189 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 1009 | 507 | 363 | 139 | 1.42 | 1.19−1.68 | 1.87 | 1.44−2.42 |
>15 | 703 | 327 | 260 | 116 | 1.42 | 1.16−1.73 | 2.09 | 1.58−2.78 |
Repetitive arm movement | ||||||||
0 | 2232 | 1267 | 750 | 215 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 925 | 507 | 304 | 114 | 1.02 | 0.86−1.22 | 1.26 | 0.96−1.64 |
>15 | 657 | 309 | 233 | 115 | 1.18 | 0.96−1.44 | 1.87 | 1.41−2.48 |
Arms above shoulder level | ||||||||
0 | 3095 | 1726 | 1035 | 334 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 380 | 187 | 137 | 56 | 1.22 | 0.96−1.55 | 1.45 | 1.03−2.05 |
>15 | 339 | 170 | 115 | 54 | 0.99 | 0.76−1.28 | 1.26 | 0.88−1.81 |
Bent postures | ||||||||
0 | 2764 | 1569 | 921 | 274 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 571 | 288 | 194 | 89 | 1.15 | 0.94−1.41 | 1.70 | 1.29−2.27 |
>15 | 479 | 226 | 172 | 81 | 1.18 | 0.94−1.48 | 1.70 | 1.25−2.32 |
Squatting or kneeling | ||||||||
0 | 2991 | 1696 | 975 | 320 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 448 | 214 | 169 | 65 | 1.46 | 1.16−1.82 | 1.71 | 1.23−2.37 |
>15 | 375 | 173 | 143 | 59 | 1.39 | 1.09−1.78 | 1.72 | 1.22−2.44 |
Using a vibrating tool | ||||||||
0 | 3553 | 1943 | 1209 | 401 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 122 | 68 | 37 | 17 | 0.97 | 0.64−1.48 | 1.50 | 0.83-2.69 |
>15 | 139 | 72 | 41 | 26 | 0.93 | 0.62−1.40 | 2.06 | 1.23−3.45 |
Work, that requires high hand grip force | ||||||||
0 | 3007 | 1696 | 994 | 317 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 247 | 116 | 93 | 38 | 1.37 | 1.08−1.73 | 1.69 | 1.20−2.39 |
>15 | 560 | 271 | 200 | 89 | 1.27 | 1.00−1.63 | 1.82 | 1.30−2.54 |
Frequent handling of loads at least 5 kg | ||||||||
0 | 3267 | 1826 | 1094 | 347 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 305 | 143 | 113 | 49 | 1.35 | 1.03–1.76 | 1.86 | 1.28−2.69 |
>15 | 242 | 114 | 80 | 48 | 1.14 | 0.84−1.55 | 2.05 | 1.38−3.03 |
Handling of loads of at least 20 kg | ||||||||
0 | 3202 | 1796 | 1054 | 352 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 332 | 157 | 128 | 47 | 1.53 | 1.18−1.97 | 1.73 | 1.19−2.51 |
>15 | 280 | 130 | 105 | 45 | 1.36 | 1.03−1.80 | 1.65 | 1.11−2.44 |
Strenuous physical work overall | ||||||||
0 | 2816 | 1609 | 925 | 282 | 1 | 1 | ||
1−15 | 542 | 259 | 200 | 83 | 1.40 | 1.14−1.73 | 1.85 | 1.37−2.49 |
>15 | 456 | 215 | 162 | 79 | 1.26 | 1.01−1.59 | 1.82 | 1.32−2.51 |
Summary Exposure | All | Low | Slowly Increasing | High | Full Model * | Full Model * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trajectory Slowly Increasing vs. Low | Trajectory High vs. Low | |||||||
N | N | N | OR α | 95% CI β | OR α | 95% CI β | ||
Factors that decrease the risk of sickness absence | ||||||||
Prolonged sitting or keyboard use | ||||||||
Neither | 2207 | 1130 | 784 | 293 | 1 | 1 | ||
Either | 763 | 449 | 241 | 73 | 0.79 | 0.65–0.95 | 0.66 | 0.49–0.88 |
Both | 844 | 504 | 262 | 78 | 0.73 | 0.61–0.87 | 0.57 | 0.43–0.77 |
Number of factors that increase the risk of sickness absence (nine work factors €) | ||||||||
0 | 1258 | 770 | 391 | 97 | 1 | 1 | ||
1 | 992 | 541 | 346 | 105 | 1.23 | 1.02–1.48 | 1.39 | 1.02–1.90 |
2−3 | 769 | 405 | 260 | 104 | 1.24 | 1.01–1.52 | 1.84 | 1.34–2.53 |
≥4 | 795 | 367 | 290 | 138 | 1.54 | 1.25–1.89 | 2.71 | 1.99–3.69 |
Combined Exposure | Low | Slowly Increasing | High | Full Model * | Full Model * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trajectory Slowly Increasing vs. Low | Trajectory High vs. Low | ||||||
N | N | N | OR α | 95% CI β | OR α | 95% CI β | |
All (N = 3814) | |||||||
Prolonged sitting or keyboard use or physically demanding work factors € | |||||||
Neither | 290 | 169 | 48 | 1 | 1 | ||
Prolonged sitting or keyboard use only | 480 | 222 | 49 | 0.78 | 0.61−1.01 | 0.60 | 0.39−0.94 |
Physically demanding work factors € only | 840 | 615 | 245 | 1.23 | 0.98−1.56 | 1.59 | 1.11−2.26 |
Both | 473 | 281 | 102 | 0.98 | 0.77−1.25 | 1.13 | 0.76−1.67 |
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Share and Cite
Lallukka, T.; Kaila-Kangas, L.; Mänty, M.; Koskinen, S.; Haukka, E.; Kausto, J.; Leino-Arjas, P.; Kaikkonen, R.; Halonen, J.I.; Shiri, R. Work-Related Exposures and Sickness Absence Trajectories: A Nationally Representative Follow-up Study among Finnish Working-Aged People. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 2099. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122099
Lallukka T, Kaila-Kangas L, Mänty M, Koskinen S, Haukka E, Kausto J, Leino-Arjas P, Kaikkonen R, Halonen JI, Shiri R. Work-Related Exposures and Sickness Absence Trajectories: A Nationally Representative Follow-up Study among Finnish Working-Aged People. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(12):2099. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122099
Chicago/Turabian StyleLallukka, Tea, Leena Kaila-Kangas, Minna Mänty, Seppo Koskinen, Eija Haukka, Johanna Kausto, Päivi Leino-Arjas, Risto Kaikkonen, Jaana I. Halonen, and Rahman Shiri. 2019. "Work-Related Exposures and Sickness Absence Trajectories: A Nationally Representative Follow-up Study among Finnish Working-Aged People" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 12: 2099. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122099