Background/Objectives: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) impose a substantial socioeconomic burden on health systems through direct costs and indirect costs from productivity loss due to health-related absenteeism. While lifestyle factors are crucial for NCD prevention, evidence regarding their association with absenteeism in middle-income countries, such as Brazil, remains limited. In this context, the present study aims to analyze factors associated with the odds, duration, and costs of health-related absenteeism in São Paulo City, Brazil. Methods: Quantitative analysis was performed using microdata from the São Paulo Health Survey 2003, 2008, and 2015 (ISA-Capital). Logistic and negative binomial regression models identified factors associated with the odds and duration of health-related absenteeism. The human capital approach was used to estimate indirect costs (Int PPP), while two-part regression models (logit and generalized linear model) and average marginal effects (ME) identified cost-associated factors. Results: Tobacco use and NCD diagnoses (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases) significantly increased the odds and duration of absenteeism. Conversely, meeting recommended leisure-time physical activity levels was associated with lower indirect costs (ME = −33. 94, p < 0. 05). Higher costs were significantly driven by tobacco use (ME = 48. 68, p < 0. 01) and NCD, namely cardiovascular diseases (ME = 62. 73), diabetes (ME = 55. 18), hypertension (ME = 52. 13), and obesity (ME = 36. 45), all with p < 0. 05. Conclusions: Promoting leisure-time physical activity and tobacco cessation may be important strategies for public health policies aiming to enhance productivity by reducing the frequency, duration, and economic burden of health-related absenteeism, complementing the necessary diagnosis and monitoring of NCD.
Trindade et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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