Indications of a Scarring Effect of Sickness Absence Periods in a Cohort of Higher Educated Self-Employed.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Little is known regarding incidence and recurrence of sickness absence in self-employed. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the number of prior episodes of sickness absence on the risk of subsequent periods of sickness absence in higher educated self-employed.

Methods

In a historic register study based on the files of a Dutch private disability insurance company all sickness absence periods of 30 days or more were analysed.

Results

A total of 15,868 insured persons contributed 141,188 person years to the study. In total, 5608 periods of sickness absence occurred during follow-up. The hazard of experiencing a new period of sickness absence increased with every previous period, ranging from a hazard ratio of 2.83 in case of one pre

SUBMITTER: Wijnvoord LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4877097 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature