R López-Bueno1, L Smith2, L L Andersen3,4, G F López-Sánchez5, J A Casajús6,7,8. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. 2. The Cambridge Centre for Sports and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. 3. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark. 4. Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg, Denmark. 5. Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. 6. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. 7. GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. 8. Biomedical Research Networking Centre about Nutrition and Obesity Physiopathology (CIBER-OBN), Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sedentary occupations have increased by more than 10% in Western countries over the last two decades, and the yearly global cost of physical inactivity has been estimated to be $53.8 billion. As workers tend to move less in the workplace, they are more likely to develop a sedentarism-related chronic condition and to be absent from work due to illness, although research evidence on the issue remains unclear. AIMS: To investigate associations between physical activity (PA) and sickness absenteeism in the workplace among Spanish university workers. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional research with data from 1025 workers aged 18-65 years (43% women) from a Spanish university. Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short versions were used to evaluate levels of PA. Workplace absenteeism was self-reported by participants. Written questionnaires distributed during medical checks included PAVS, IPAQ and the question about absenteeism among other information. The association between PA and sickness absenteeism was examined using adjusted multiple linear regression. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, job function, chronic conditions, sedentarism and smoking, each weekly hour of PA reduced sickness absence by -1.20 (95% confidence interval: -2.40-0.00) days per year. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of PA promotion strategies aimed at university employees may lead to a reduction of days off work due to illness.
BACKGROUND: Sedentary occupations have increased by more than 10% in Western countries over the last two decades, and the yearly global cost of physical inactivity has been estimated to be $53.8 billion. As workers tend to move less in the workplace, they are more likely to develop a sedentarism-related chronic condition and to be absent from work due to illness, although research evidence on the issue remains unclear. AIMS: To investigate associations between physical activity (PA) and sickness absenteeism in the workplace among Spanish university workers. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional research with data from 1025 workers aged 18-65 years (43% women) from a Spanish university. Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short versions were used to evaluate levels of PA. Workplace absenteeism was self-reported by participants. Written questionnaires distributed during medical checks included PAVS, IPAQ and the question about absenteeism among other information. The association between PA and sickness absenteeism was examined using adjusted multiple linear regression. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, job function, chronic conditions, sedentarism and smoking, each weekly hour of PA reduced sickness absence by -1.20 (95% confidence interval: -2.40-0.00) days per year. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of PA promotion strategies aimed at university employees may lead to a reduction of days off work due to illness.
Authors: Jayden R Hunter; Rebecca M Meiring; Ashley Cripps; Haresh T Suppiah; Don Vicendese; Michael I Kingsley; Brett A Gordon Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-29 Impact factor: 3.390