RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Gender differences in the duration of non-work-related sickness absence episodes due to musculoskeletal disorders
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 1065
OP 1073
DO 10.1136/jech-2014-204331
VO 70
IS 11
A1 Arcas, M Marta
A1 Delclos, George L
A1 Torá-Rocamora, Isabel
A1 Martínez, José Miguel
A1 Benavides, Fernando G
YR 2016
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/70/11/1065.abstract
AB Background There is wide evidence that women present longer duration of sickness absence (SA) than men. Musculoskeletal disorders are influenced by gender due to the sexual division of work.Methods 354 432 episodes of non-work-related SA due to musculoskeletal disorders, which were registered in Catalonia between 2005 and 2008, were selected. The outcome variable was the duration of SA. Frailty survival models, stratified by sex and adjusted for explanatory variables (age, employment status, case management, economic activity and repeated episode), were fitted to study the association between each variable and the duration of SA, obtaining HRs.Results Women presented longer SA episodes than men in all variable categories. A trend from shorter to longer duration of SA with increasing age was observed in men, whereas in women, it had a fluctuating pattern. Analysing most frequent diagnostic subgroups from the sample, only ‘non-specific lumbago’ and ‘sciatic lumbago’ showed these age patterns. Frailty survival models applied to these 2 subgroups confirmed the described age patterns in SA duration.Conclusions Women have longer non-work-related SA due to musculoskeletal disorders than men. However, while men have longer absences as their age increases, in women some older groups have shorter absences than younger ones. These findings could be explained by gender differences in the interaction between paid work and family demands. Our results highlight the need for continued research on SA from a gender perspective, in order to improve management of SA in terms of clinical practice and public policies.