The impact of traumatic injuries on work productivity and economic burden among post-hospitalisation patients in Vietnam

Traumatic injuries are a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality, with profound socioeconomic impacts, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. However, evidence regarding post-discharge work productivity loss among injury survivors remains scarce in Vietnam. This secondary analysis was based on data collected between September 2020 and January 2021 at two hospitals in Hung Yen province, Vietnam. A total of 253 injury patients were included. Work productivity loss was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health (WPAI:GH). Multivariate Tobit and logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with absenteeism and presenteeism. Among participants, 52.6% reported absenteeism and 85.8% reported presenteeism within the week prior to the survey. Higher age, greater monthly income, lower psychosocial resilience scores, poorer health status (EQ-5D-5L), and higher PTSD symptom severity were significantly associated with reduced work productivity (p < 0.05). The mean weekly costs of absenteeism and presenteeism were 28.3 USD and 12.0 USD, respectively. Compared to international studies, the prevalence of work impairment in this cohort was notably higher, likely reflecting limited access to rehabilitation services and sociocultural pressures to resume work prematurely in Vietnam. Traumatic injuries substantially impair work productivity among survivors after hospital discharge in Vietnam, imposing significant personal and economic burdens. These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive rehabilitation programs that address both physical and psychosocial dimensions to support sustainable workforce reintegration.