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Diagnosis-specific Cumulative Incidence of Return-to-work, Resignation, and Death Among Long-term Sick-listed Employees: Findings From the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study

Authors :
Toru Honda
Makoto Yamamoto
Naoko Sasaki
Kentaro Tomita
Isamu Kabe
Teppei Imai
Hiroko Okazaki
Masafumi Eguchi
Noritada Kato
Akiko Nishihara
Tetsuya Mizoue
Toshiaki Miyamoto
Seitaro Dohi
Ai Hori
Yosuke Inoue
Shuichiro Yamamoto
Takeshi Kochi
Takayuki Ogasawara
Akiko Nanri
Makiko Shimizu
Chihiro Nishiura
Tohru Nakagawa
Motoki Endo
Ikuko Kashino
Source :
Journal of Epidemiology. 32:431-437
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Japan Epidemiological Association, 2022.

Abstract

Background While it is essential to understand how long is sufficient for return-to-work when designing paid sick-leave systems, little attempt has been done to collect cause-specific information on when and how many of sickness absentees returned to work, became unemployed, or passed away. Methods We studied the first sick-leave episode of ≥30 consecutive days in those ≤55 years of age during 2012-2013 among 11 Japanese private companies (n = 1209), which were followed until 2017. Overall and disease-specific cumulative incidences of return-to-work, resignations, and deaths were estimated using competing risk analysis. Results During the 3.5-year period (follow-up rate: 99.9%), 1014 returned to work, 167 became unemployed, and 27 died. Overall, return-to-work occurred within 1 year in 74.9% of all absentees and in 89.3% of those who successfully returned to work. Resignation occurred within 1 year in 8.7% of all absentees and in 62.9% of all subjects who resigned. According to ICD-10 chapters, the cumulative incidence of return-to-work ranged from 82.1% for mental disorders (F00-F99) to 95.3% for circulatory diseases (I00-I99). The cumulative incidence of return-to-work due to mental disorders ranged from 66.7% in schizophrenia (F20) to 95.8% in bipolar affective disorders (F31). Death was rarely observed except for cases of neoplasms (C00-D48), of which the cumulative incidence of death reached 14.2% by 1.5 years. Conclusions Return-to-work and resignations occurred commonly within 1 year of sick leave among long-term sickness absentees in the Japanese private companies. Our findings may assist occupational physicians and employers in developing effective social protection schemes.

Details

ISSN :
13499092 and 09175040
Volume :
32
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Epidemiology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....5bbaff3b11d8bd1c8320961ccc83b188