Gender differences in sick leave related to back pain diagnoses: influence of pregnancy.
METHODS
A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of pregnancy on any gender differences in sickness absence related to back pain diagnoses in the group 16 to 44 years of age.


BACKGROUND
Back pain diagnoses are a major reason for sickness absence, especially among pregnant women. There is, however, little knowledge on the extent to which back pain during pregnancy may account for any differences in sickness absence when compared with men and nonpregnant women.


METHODS
Data on sick leave periods certified by a physician were combined from two research databases: one including all insured persons (n = 50,167) and one including pregnant women (n = 1342) for the duration of 1 year.


RESULTS
When pregnant women were subtracted from "all women," nonpregnant women had the same cumulative incidence of sickness absence related to back pain diagnoses as men. Among "all women" sick-listed with back pain diagnoses, 37% were pregnant, a finding not evident from official statistics. Sickness absence increased with age among nonpregnant women and men, but decreased among pregnant women.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of sickness absence related to back pain diagnoses did not differ between nonpregnant women and men ages 16 to 44 years. The importance of back pain diagnosis as a reason for sickness absence may thus be overrated among nonpregnant women.
Sydsjö
Adam
A
Department of Health and Environment, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Sweden.
Alexanderson
Kristina
K
Dastserri
Monir
M
Sydsjö
Gunilla
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001416:Back Pain; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden