Key result
Disturbed sleep at baseline significantly reduced the likelihood of returning from long-term sickness absence (OR 0.56) compared to those without disturbed sleep.
Why the study?
Does disturbed sleep and fatigue reduce return to work in individuals on long-term sickness absence?
Cohort (n=1,795)
Does disturbed sleep and fatigue reduce return to work in individuals on long-term sickness absence?
Odds Ratio: 0.56 (95% CI 0.35–0.9)
Absolute Event Rate: 48.1% vs 54.4%
Disturbed sleep and fatigue are significant predictors of a reduced likelihood of returning to work from long-term and intermediate-term sickness absence.
Disturbed sleep may worsen return-to-work prognosis after long-term sickness absence; leaves open whether targeted interventions improve outcomes.
Long-term sickness absence has doubled in Sweden, as has complaints of disturbed sleep. The present study sought to investigate the prospective link between long-term sickness absence and disturbed sleep or fatigue. Sleep and fatigue from a representative national sample was followed up 1.5-2 yr later in terms of return from long-term (>or=90 d) and intermediate term (14-89 d) sickness absence. 8,300 individuals participated in the survey, out of which 372 were on long-term and 1,423 were on intermediate term sick leave. The data was analyzed using logistic regression analysis with adjustment for background and work environment variables. Separate analyses were carried out for disturbed sleep and fatigue since they were correlated. The results showed that those with disturbed sleep at the start had an Odds Ratio (OR) of 0.56 (95% Confidence Interval (CI)=0.35-0.90) for returning from long-term sickness absence. For fatigue the results were OR=0.56 (CI=0.34-0.90). Intermediate term sickness absence showed similar, but slightly weaker, results. The results indicate that disturbed sleep and fatigue are predictors of lack of return from long term and intermediate term sickness absence.
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Åkerstedt et al. (2010) conducted a cohort in Long-term and intermediate-term sickness absence (n=1,795). Disturbed sleep vs. No disturbed sleep was evaluated on Return from long-term (≥90 days) sickness absence (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.90). Disturbed sleep at baseline significantly reduced the likelihood of returning from long-term sickness absence (OR 0.56) compared to those without disturbed sleep.
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