title: Costs of production loss and primary health care interventions for return-to-work of sick-listed workers in Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate, from the perspective of society, the costs of sick leave and rehabilitation of recently sick-listed workers with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) or mental disorders (MD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective cohort study, 812 sick-listed workers with MSD (518) or MD (294) were included. Data on consumption of health care and production loss were collected over six months from an administrative casebook system of the health care provider. Production loss was estimated based on the number of sick-leave days. Societal costs were based on the human capital approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean costs of production loss per person were EUR 5978 (MSD) and EUR 6381 (MD). Health care interventions accounted for 9.3% (MSD) and 8.2% (MD) of the costs of production loss. Corresponding figures for rehabilitation activities were 3.7% (MSD) and 3.1% (MD). Health care interventions were received by about 95% in both diagnostic groups. For nearly half of the cohort, no rehabilitation intervention at all was provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Costs associated with sick leave were dominated by production loss. Resources invested in rehabilitation were small. By increasing investment in early rehabilitation, costs to society and the individual might be reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resources invested in rehabilitation for sick-listed with musculoskeletal and mental disorders in Sweden are very small in comparison with the costs of production loss. For policy makers, there may be much to gain through investments into improved rehabilitation processes for return to work. Health care professionals need to develop rehabilitative activities aiming for return to work, rather than symptoms treatment only.
authors: Division of Health Care Analysis, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden .
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Persson
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Bernfort
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Wåhlin
authors: Birgitta
authors: B
authors: Öberg
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Ekberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000191:economics*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics*; D013548:Sweden; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
keywords: Economic analysis; Sweden; mental disorders; musculoskeletal disorders; rehabilitation; sick leave; societal costs