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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-11-2009 | Original Article

Does sickness presenteeism have an impact on future general health?

Authors: Gunnar Bergström, Lennart Bodin, Jan Hagberg, Tomas Lindh, Gunnar Aronsson, Malin Josephson

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 10/2009

Abstract

Purpose

The primary aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether working despite illness, so called “sickness presenteeism”, has an impact on the future general health of two different working populations during a follow-up period of 3 years.

Methods

The study was based on two bodies of data collected at a number of Swedish workplaces from 1999 to 2003. The first material comprised 6,901 employees from the public sector and the second 2,862 subjects from the private sector. A comprehensive survey was issued three times: at baseline, after 18 months and after 3 years. Apart from the explanatory variable sickness presenteeism, several potential confounders were considered. The outcome variable was good/excellent versus fair/poor self-reported health.

Results

Sickness presenteeism at baseline was consistently found to heighten the risk of fair/poor health at both the 18-month and 3-year follow ups even after adjusting for the detected confounders.

Conclusions

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to show that sickness presenteeism appears to be an independent risk factor for future fair/poor general health.

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Title: Does sickness presenteeism have an impact on future general health?
Authors: Gunnar Bergström
Lennart Bodin
Jan Hagberg
Tomas Lindh
Gunnar Aronsson
Malin Josephson
Publication date: 01-11-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 10/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0433-6

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Does sickness presenteeism have an impact on future general health?

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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