Trends in sickness absence in Denmark

TY - JOUR

T1 - Trends in sickness absence in Denmark

AU - Johansen, Kristina

AU - Bihrmann, Kristine

AU - Mikkelsen, Sigurd

AU - Lynge, Elsebeth

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Based on the prevailing view that it has become a more common behavior, sickness absence is -presently a topic of considerable concern in many European countries. Using sickness absence data from Denmark, we aimed to show whether this assumption holds true or not. METHODS: We used a linear regression analysis to analyze time trends in sickness absence based on datasets from the Danish Employers Confederation, the State Employer's Authority, the Labour Force Survey, and Statistics Denmark. RESULTS: The findings from the Confederation of Danish Employers, the State Employer's Authority, and the Labor Force Survey indicated a stable and largely unaltered pattern of sickness absence during the last 20 years. Findings from Statistics Denmark showed an increase in the cumulative incidence proportion from 6.6 to 7.5% among employed people between 2000 and 2007. CONCLUSION: Our data did not indicate that sickness absence behavior has become more common in Denmark during the past 20 years; although, an increase was seen in the beginning of this century. It is apparent that the many reports on sickness absence that highlight an increasing trend are based on sickness benefit reimbursement data and have overlooked the underlying changes over time in the risk population and the entitlement to reimbursement.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Based on the prevailing view that it has become a more common behavior, sickness absence is -presently a topic of considerable concern in many European countries. Using sickness absence data from Denmark, we aimed to show whether this assumption holds true or not. METHODS: We used a linear regression analysis to analyze time trends in sickness absence based on datasets from the Danish Employers Confederation, the State Employer's Authority, the Labour Force Survey, and Statistics Denmark. RESULTS: The findings from the Confederation of Danish Employers, the State Employer's Authority, and the Labor Force Survey indicated a stable and largely unaltered pattern of sickness absence during the last 20 years. Findings from Statistics Denmark showed an increase in the cumulative incidence proportion from 6.6 to 7.5% among employed people between 2000 and 2007. CONCLUSION: Our data did not indicate that sickness absence behavior has become more common in Denmark during the past 20 years; although, an increase was seen in the beginning of this century. It is apparent that the many reports on sickness absence that highlight an increasing trend are based on sickness benefit reimbursement data and have overlooked the underlying changes over time in the risk population and the entitlement to reimbursement.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19705042

SN - 0355-3140

VL - 35

SP - 334

EP - 341

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

IS - 5

ER -