UNLABELLED: Women in general have a higher sickness absence than men, and sickness absence is particularly high among pregnant women. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To study the level of male sickness absence as compared to female, including and excluding pregnant women. DESIGN: Studies of incidence and length of sickness absence exceeding 7 days using population-based sick-leave records. SETTING: The community of Linköping, Sweden, 117,000 inhabitants. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects included in the analysis were all men and women aged 16-44 who in 1985 or 1986 had at least one sick-leave spell exceeding 7 days. RESULTS: Pregnant women had a very high sickness absence. When pregnant women were excluded, the female sick-leave rate decreased from 0.18 (95% C.I. 0.17-0.18) to 0.15 (95% C.I. 0.15-0.16) for all women. The corresponding male sick-leave rate was 0.12 (95% c.i. 0.12-0.13). Gender differences in length of sickness absence decreased to the same extent. The results were similar when restricting the analysis to employed persons. The decrease varied a little with occupational group and was largest in the age-group 25-34. CONCLUSIONS: When pregnant women were excluded the excess female sick-leave rate was halved, but still remained 25% higher than the male. The impact of excluding pregnant women was highest in the age group 25-34, where the fertility-rate was highest. Although only 5% of all women aged 16-44 were pregnant, they had a large impact on gender differences in sickness absence.
UNLABELLED: Women in general have a higher sickness absence than men, and sickness absence is particularly high among pregnant women. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To study the level of male sickness absence as compared to female, including and excluding pregnant women. DESIGN: Studies of incidence and length of sickness absence exceeding 7 days using population-based sick-leave records. SETTING: The community of Linköping, Sweden, 117,000 inhabitants. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects included in the analysis were all men and women aged 16-44 who in 1985 or 1986 had at least one sick-leave spell exceeding 7 days. RESULTS: Pregnant women had a very high sickness absence. When pregnant women were excluded, the female sick-leave rate decreased from 0.18 (95% C.I. 0.17-0.18) to 0.15 (95% C.I. 0.15-0.16) for all women. The corresponding male sick-leave rate was 0.12 (95% c.i. 0.12-0.13). Gender differences in length of sickness absence decreased to the same extent. The results were similar when restricting the analysis to employed persons. The decrease varied a little with occupational group and was largest in the age-group 25-34. CONCLUSIONS: When pregnant women were excluded the excess female sick-leave rate was halved, but still remained 25% higher than the male. The impact of excluding pregnant women was highest in the age group 25-34, where the fertility-rate was highest. Although only 5% of all women aged 16-44 were pregnant, they had a large impact on gender differences in sickness absence.
Authors: Helle Gram Quist; Birthe L Thomsen; Ulla Christensen; Thomas Clausen; Andreas Holtermann; Jakob B Bjorner; Lars L Andersen Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-10-18 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Gøril Kvamme Løset; Harald Dale-Olsen; Tale Hellevik; Arne Mastekaasa; Tilmann von Soest; Kjersti Misje Østbakken Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Charlotte Björkenstam; Krisztina D László; Cecilia Orellana; Ulrik Lidwall; Petra Lindfors; Margaretha Voss; Pia Svedberg; Kristina Alexanderson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-05-14 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Krisztina D László; Charlotte Björkenstam; Pia Svedberg; Petra Lindfors; Kristina Alexanderson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-12-13 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Åsa H Everhov; Gustaf Bruze; Jonas Söderling; Johan Askling; Jonas Halfvarson; Karin Westberg; Petter Malmborg; Caroline Nordenvall; Jonas F Ludvigsson; Ola Olén Journal: J Crohns Colitis Date: 2021-06-22 Impact factor: 9.071