Dataset Information

Are trajectories of neck-shoulder pain associated with sick leave and work ability in workers? A 1-year prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The study aimed to determine the extent to which latent trajectories of neck-shoulder pain (NSP) are associated with self-reported sick leave and work ability based on frequent repeated measures over 1?year in an occupational population.

Methods

This longitudinal study included 748 Danish workers (blue-collar, n=620; white collar, n=128). A questionnaire was administered to collect data on personal and occupational factors at baseline. Text messages were used for repeated measurements of NSP intensity (scale 0-10) over 1?year (14 waves in total). Simultaneously, self-reported sick leave (days/month) due to pain was assessed at 4-week intervals, while work ability (scale 0-10) was assessed using a single item (work ability index) at 12-week intervals over the year. Trajectories of NSP, distinguished by latent class growth analysis, were used as predictors of sick leave and work ability in generalised estimation equations with multiple adjustments.

Results

Sick leave increased and work ability decreased across all NSP trajectory classes (low, moderate, strong fluctuating and severe persistent pain intensity). In the adjusted model, the estimated number of days on sick leave was 1.5?days/month for severe persistent NSP compared with 0.1?days/month for low NSP (relative risk=13.8, 95%?CI 6.7 to 28.5). Similarly, work ability decreased markedly for severe persistent NSP (OR=12.9, 95%?CI 8.5 to 19.7; median 7.1) compared with low NSP (median 9.5).

Conclusion

Severe persistent NSP was associated with sick leave and poor work ability over 1?year among workers. Preventive strategies aiming at reducing severe persistent NSP among working populations are needed.

SUBMITTER: Hallman DM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6475446 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Are trajectories of neck-shoulder pain associated with sick leave and work ability in workers? A 1-year prospective study.

Hallman David Michael DM Holtermann Andreas A Dencker-Larsen Sofie S Birk Jørgensen Marie M Nørregaard Rasmussen Charlotte Diana CD

BMJ open 20190320 3

<h4>Objectives</h4>The study aimed to determine the extent to which latent trajectories of neck-shoulder pain (NSP) are associated with self-reported sick leave and work ability based on frequent repeated measures over 1 year in an occupational population.<h4>Methods</h4>This longitudinal study included 748 Danish workers (blue-collar, n=620; white collar, n=128). A questionnaire was administered to collect data on personal and occupational factors at baseline. Text messages were used for repeat ...[more]

PMID: 30898794

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Project description:ObjectivesSick leave due to anxiety and depression is a heterogeneous process constituting a pressing public health issue. This longitudinal study aimed to identify sick leave trajectories among patients before, during and after work-focused treatment, in all 29.5 months. We then aimed to determine the background and clinical characteristics of these trajectory groups.MethodsBackground and clinical data were collected by patient self-report (N=619) in an observational study in a specialised mental healthcare clinic. Sick leave was recorded from national registry data. A latent growth mixture model identified trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression determined differences in background characteristics while a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) identified clinical differences.ResultsWe identified three trajectories: The 'Resilient' group (47.7%) had low sick leave throughout the period. The two other groups ('Recovery', 31.8% and 'High risk', 20.5%) had similar pretreatment trajectories: lower sick leave one year prior which increased to high sick leave at the start of treatment. After treatment, the 'Recovery' group made an almost full return to work while the 'High risk' group remained at high sick leave. The two groups with high sick leave had more women and higher age compared with the 'Resilient' group. All groups had similar clinical scores at the start of treatment, but the 'High risk' groups had residual depressive symptoms at the end of treatment. Effect sizes for anxiety and depression were moderate or large for all groups, (Cohen's d=0.74-1.81), and 87.2% of the total sample were fully working one year after treatment.ConclusionWe found three subgroups with distinctly different trajectories. Female gender and higher age were associated with high sick leave at the start of treatment, while residual depressive symptoms at the end of treatment predicted continued sick leave. The study points to the possibility of improving patient outcomes in the future by stratifying and tailoring treatment to patient characteristics.

Dataset Information

Are trajectories of neck-shoulder pain associated with sick leave and work ability in workers? A 1-year prospective study.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Are trajectories of neck-shoulder pain associated with sick leave and work ability in workers? A 1-year prospective study.

Similar Datasets

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