Do gastrointestinal complaints increase the risk for subsequent medically certified long-term sickness absence? The HUSK study

2011

Gastrointestinal Complaints and Long-Term Sickness Absence

Sample size: 13880 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Øverland Simon, Knapstad Marit, Wilhelmsen Ingvard, Mykletun Arnstein, Glozier Nick

Primary Institution: University of Bergen

Hypothesis

Do gastrointestinal complaints increase the risk for subsequent medically certified long-term sickness absence?

Conclusion

High levels of gastrointestinal complaints predict long-term sickness absence, even when accounting for mental health issues.

Supporting Evidence

Those reporting GI complaints had a higher risk for later sickness absence (HR = 1.42).
GI complaints were associated with anxiety (OR = 3.66) and depression (OR = 3.28).
The association of GI complaints with future sickness absence remained significant after adjusting for mental illness.

Takeaway

People who often have stomach problems are more likely to miss work for a long time, even if they also feel anxious or sad.

Methodology

The study linked health data from 13,880 individuals to national registries on sickness absence and used Cox regression models to predict sickness absences over an average of 5.4 years.