The role of gender in long-term sickness absence and transition to permanent disability benefits. Results from a multiregister based, prospective study in Norway 1990-1995.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to identify predictors for the transition from long-term sickness absence into disability pension with a special focus on gender.


METHODS
The study used data from a national database containing a 10% random sample of the Norwegian adult population (The KIRUT database). The study population were all individuals in the database who on 1 January 1990 were eligible for sick pay from the Norwegian National Insurance System: 83,398 men and 75,586 women. Individuals below 60 years with long-term sickness absence starting in 1990 and 1991 were identified, 6,434 men and 8,233 women, and followed up for three years. Background data were used as independent variables in a logistic regression of the probability for receiving disability pension during follow-up.


RESULTS
Annual cumulative incidence of long-term sickness absence was 6.5% for women and 4.9% for men. During follow-up, 12.4% of the women and 12.6% of the men received disability pension. Among full-time employed women only 10.3% had become disability pensioners, while the corresponding proportion for women working part-time was 15.5%. For men the figures were 12.1% (full-time) and 18.1% (part-time). In the logistic regression of the whole sample the female odds ratio was insignificant. The dominant predictive factors for disability pension were age and duration of the sickness spells. Working part-time also increased the risk. Higher levels of education and having children below 7 years reduced the probability for disability pension. Separate regressions for men and women showed that the 'protective' effect of having small children only remained for women.
Gjesdal
Sturla
S
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care/Programme for Health Economics, University of Bergen, Ulriksdalen 8c, 5009 Bergen, Norway. sturla.gjesdal@isf.uib.no
Bratberg
Espen
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D018868:Insurance, Disability / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010415:Pensions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*