Work-related health problems

Employees who take more extended sick leaves have a greater likelihood of dying than their less sickly co-workers, a research team at University College London has reported.

In a research report published in the British Medical Journal, the researchers note that workers who went on long sick leaves more than once in three years were 66 percent more likely to suffer premature death than workers who had no such absences.

The study examines the absence records of nearly 6,500 British civil servants between 1985 and 1988 and data on which men and women died through 2004.

The data indicated that as medically certified absences (with durations of at least 7 days) increased, the number of deaths also increased. During the three-year period, approximately 30 percent of men and women had one or more extended sick leaves and this group showed a 66 percent higher risk of death compared to those who did not have these absences.

It appeared the diagnosis of sickness served as a reliable predictor of the risk of death (in comparison to employees without sick leaves):

* Workers who went on leave because of circulatory diseases were four times more likely to die prematurely.

* Workers on leave for psychiatric diseases were 2.5 times more likely to experience premature death in cancer-related deaths.

* Employees whose reasons for sick leave involved surgical operations had two times higher risk of dying early.

* Employees on leave for musculoskeletal reasons (such as arthritis or back pain) did not show any increased risk of premature death than their healthier colleagues.

The observations held true even among people who were healthy to start with. These results tended to suggest that extended sick leaves — whether for major causes or for minor ailments — may indicate the possibilities of the individuals suffering more serious health problems over time.

Extended sick leaves can be an early marker for those at higher risk of developing long-term serious diseases.

The interesting observation is that the findings extend to people whose reasons for absence were minor illnesses like coughs and colds.

It becomes possible for doctors and employers to identify workers who have higher likelihood of serious illness at an early stage before symptoms become apparent.

People who are likely to suffer work-related health problems — such as those in demanding job positions — can be targeted for assistance from occupational physicians.

Absences due to sickness have serious economic impact on businesses due to lost working hours and costs of health care.

The researchers emphasize that the taking of sick leave is not considered a risk behavior. It serves only as a possible indicator of problems or circumstances that could lead to increased mortality risks.