Melvin Marzan1, Sarah Callinan1, Michael Livingston1,2, Geoffrey Leggat1, Heng Jiang1,3,4. 1. Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR), La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. 2. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden. 3. Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia. 4. National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), Curtin University, WA, Perth 6845, Australia.
Abstract
AIMS: Alcohol consumption (AC) may cause workplace absence, but the findings of individual studies vary markedly. To date, no dose-response meta-analysis (DRMA) of the relationship between AC and sickness absence (SA) has been completed. This paper aims to estimate the dose-response relationship between AC and the risk of SA based on published observational studies. METHODS: We used DRMA and modelling to investigate the effects of varying doses of AC (including heavy episodic drinking (HED)) onSA. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 21 studies (12 cohort studies and 9 cross-sectional). It showed that HED, risky (20-40 g of alcohol/day) and high-risk (>40 g of alcohol/day) drinkers had an elevated risk of SA when compared with light-to-moderate drinkers for both sexes. Those who abstained from alcohol had a higher risk of SA than those who drink moderately. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that risky, high-risk drinking and HED may increase the risk of absenteeism. The implementation of population-based strategies may be appropriate to address the burdens of alcohol-related SA. Additionally, economic evaluations of alcohol policies should incorporate their impacts on SA. However, the current literature has substantial limitations, relying on modestly designed studies from just a few settings and more studies are needed-especially those that measure abstention in more nuancedways.
AIMS: Alcohol consumption (AC) may cause workplace absence, but the findings of individual studies vary markedly. To date, no dose-response meta-analysis (DRMA) of the relationship between AC and sickness absence (SA) has been completed. This paper aims to estimate the dose-response relationship between AC and the risk of SA based on published observational studies. METHODS: We used DRMA and modelling to investigate the effects of varying doses of AC (including heavy episodic drinking (HED)) onSA. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 21 studies (12 cohort studies and 9 cross-sectional). It showed that HED, risky (20-40 g of alcohol/day) and high-risk (>40 g of alcohol/day) drinkers had an elevated risk of SA when compared with light-to-moderate drinkers for both sexes. Those who abstained from alcohol had a higher risk of SA than those who drink moderately. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that risky, high-risk drinking and HED may increase the risk of absenteeism. The implementation of population-based strategies may be appropriate to address the burdens of alcohol-related SA. Additionally, economic evaluations of alcohol policies should incorporate their impacts on SA. However, the current literature has substantial limitations, relying on modestly designed studies from just a few settings and more studies are needed-especially those that measure abstention in more nuancedways.
Authors: Neda S Hashemi; Ingvild Dalen; Jens Christoffer Skogen; Hildegunn Sagvaag; David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras; Randi Wågø Aas Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-05-31
Authors: Mikkel Magnus Thørrisen; Tore Bonsaksen; Jens Christoffer Skogen; Lisebet Skeie Skarpaas; Aleksandra Sevic; Willem van Mechelen; Randi Wågø Aas Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-06-25