Cas van der Wurf1, Erwin Speklé, Frederieke Schaafsma, Pieter Coenen. 1. Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam (Mr van der Wurf, Dr Schaafsma, Dr Coenen); Arbo Unie, Occupational Health Service, Utrecht (Dr Speklé), The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the costs of low-back pain associated sick leave of workers in the Netherlands from 2015 to 2017. METHODS: We used longitudinal data form a large occupational health service regarding sick leave (registered by occupational physicians). Costs of sick leave due to low-back pain were estimated using the human capital approach, considering society and company perspectives. RESULTS: A total of 7901 low-back pain episodes from 7161 unique workers were analyzed. We estimated an average episode of low-back pain sick leave was 129.42 days in duration and costed €16,191. The total extrapolated sick leave costs were estimated to be €244.7 million in 2017. CONCLUSIONS: Low-back pain remains to be a persistent problem in the working population, as it causes workers to take sick leave for considerable periods of time with considerable associated economic consequences.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the costs of low-back pain associated sick leave of workers in the Netherlands from 2015 to 2017. METHODS: We used longitudinal data form a large occupational health service regarding sick leave (registered by occupational physicians). Costs of sick leave due to low-back pain were estimated using the human capital approach, considering society and company perspectives. RESULTS: A total of 7901 low-back pain episodes from 7161 unique workers were analyzed. We estimated an average episode of low-back pain sick leave was 129.42 days in duration and costed €16,191. The total extrapolated sick leave costs were estimated to be €244.7 million in 2017. CONCLUSIONS:Low-back pain remains to be a persistent problem in the working population, as it causes workers to take sick leave for considerable periods of time with considerable associated economic consequences.