Key result
Sickness presenteeism among unhealthy employees was associated with a nearly twofold higher incidence of serious coronary events compared to moderate sickness absenteeism (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.02-3.83).
Why the study?
Does sickness presenteeism increase the incidence of serious coronary events in male civil servants without previous myocardial infarction?
Cohort (n=5,071)
Does sickness presenteeism increase the incidence of serious coronary events in male civil servants without previous myocardial infarction?
Effect estimate: HR 1.97 (95% CI 1.02-3.83)
Working while ill (sickness presenteeism) is associated with a nearly twofold increased risk of serious coronary events in men.
Sickness presenteeism may warrant caution among unhealthy male workers; leaves open whether reducing it lowers coronary events.
OBJECTIVES: Although sick, some people take no time off work, a phenomenon called "sickness presenteeism." This study examined the association between sickness presenteeism and incidence of serious coronary events. METHODS: The analyses were based on a cohort of 5071 male British civil servants without previous myocardial infarction. Baseline screening included measurements of health status and coronary risk factors. Absence records were assessed for the 3 years subsequent to baseline screening. The outcome of interest was incident nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal coronary heart disease (mean length of follow-up=9.1 years). RESULTS: Seventeen percent of unhealthy employees took no absence during the 3-year follow-up. Their incidence of serious coronary events was twice as high as that of the unhealthy employees with moderate levels of sickness absenteeism (after adjustment for conventional risk factors, hazard ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval=1.02, 3.83). CONCLUSIONS: Employers and employees should be aware of the potential harmful effects caused by sickness presenteeism.
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Kivimäki et al. (2005) conducted a cohort in Serious coronary events (n=5,071). Sickness presenteeism (working while ill) vs. Moderate levels of sickness absenteeism was evaluated on Incident nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal coronary heart disease (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.02-3.83). Sickness presenteeism among unhealthy employees was associated with a nearly twofold higher incidence of serious coronary events compared to moderate sickness absenteeism (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.02-3.83).
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