Causes of sickness absenteeism in the adult population of Qatar: A cross-sectional analysis of health records

Background: Sickness absenteeism is a significant global health concern, and understanding its causes is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies. This study aimed to identify the medical causes of sickness absenteeism among adults in Qatar, using a standardized classification scheme. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from Electronic Health Records of individuals aged 18 years or older during 2019. The study included all clinical encounters resulting in sick leave. Data were restructured to analyze individuals with sick leaves as the primary unit. A standardized classification scheme for sick leave causes was used. The study reported the relative frequency of reasons for seeking sickness leave and calculated the age and gender specific sick leave incidence rates and the reason-specific rates Results: During the study period, 387,496 clinical encounters resulting in sick leave were identified, involving 87,738 unique individuals having at least one sick leave. A higher prevalence of sick leave was among younger adults (<25 years) and females, with females being 5.4× more likely to have at least one sick leave per year compared to males. The leading causes of sick leave included cold, cough, flu—influenza (159.9/10,000), and gastrointestinal problems (93.8/10,000). Gender differences were noted, with males experiencing more injuries and infectious diseases, while females reported more genitourinary disorders, headaches, cardiac-related problems, and blood disorders. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into sickness absenteeism in Qatar, highlighting theprimary medical causes. The findings can inform the development of targeted interventions and support systems for a healthier workforce.