Impact of pre-pandemic sick leave diagnoses on the length of COVID-19-related sick leave: a nationwide registry-based study

• Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties and changes in many aspects of people’s health and lives. Although infection affected work capacity, during the first wave policies for sick leave due to COVID-19 were unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of sick leave diagnoses in the year before the COVID-19 diagnosis on sick leave duration due to COVID-19 in a nationwide non-hospitalised population. Methods: Data from three Swedish registries were analysed for sick leave commencing between 1 March and 31 August 2020, with a follow-up period of 4months. Sick leave due to COVID-19 was considered the number of days that sickness benefits were used and included at least one registered COVID-19 diagnosis. Sick leave in the year before COVID-19 diagnosis were categorised into five diagnostic groups and one reference group (participants without prior sick leave). Results: The study comprised 8935individuals who received sickness benefits due to COVID-19 in Sweden during the first pandemic wave (mean age 46.7years, 67% females, and 24% had diagnoses for sick leave in the year before COVID-19diagnosis). The duration of sick leave due to COVID-19 was significantly higher in the groups with prior sick leave owing to musculoskeletal system diseases (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.15); respiratory system diseases (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14–1.31); all other isolated diagnoses (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03–1.14); and multiple diagnoses (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.21–1.43). Conclusions: The results of this nationwide registry-based study indicate that individuals with premorbid conditions are more prone to longer sick leave durations due to COVID-19. Prediction of sick leave duration during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is complex and several factors played a role. © 2023, The Author(s).

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Epidemiology

Registry-based study

Return to work

SARS-CoV-2 infection

Sick leave

female

human

male

medical leave

middle aged

pandemic

register

Sweden

COVID-19

COVID-19 Testing

Humans

Pandemics

Registries

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)