title: Burden of Sickness Absence Due to Chronic Disease in the Dutch Workforce from 2007 to 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic diseases are associated with productivity loss costs due to sickness absence. It is not always clear, however, which chronic diseases in particular are involved with how many sickness days and associated costs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence, additional days of sickness absence, and associated costs of chronic diseases among the Dutch working population from 2007 to 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of chronic diseases and additional days of sickness absence were derived from the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey (NWCS) from 2007 to 2011. The cost of each sickness absence day was based on linked personal income data. We used multiple regression analysis to derive the unconfounded additional days of sickness absence due to each chronic disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Annually, approximately 37 % of the Dutch working population reported some type of chronic physical or psychological disease. No clinically relevant changes in prevalence of specific chronic diseases were observed in the studied period, nor in the number of additional sickness absence days or associated costs. The national financial burden due to sickness absence associated with chronic musculoskeletal disorders amounted to €1.3 billion annually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic diseases result in substantial productivity loss due to sickness absence. Given the ageing population, the proposed increase in the state pension age and an increase in sedentary lifestyle and obesity, the prevalence of chronic diseases may be expected to rise. Coordinated efforts to maintain and improve the health of the working population are necessary to minimize socioeconomic consequences.
authors: TNO - Work, Health and Care, PO Box 3005, 2301 DA, Leiden, The Netherlands. Ernest.deVroome@TNO.nl.
authors: Ernest M M
authors: EM
authors: de Vroome
authors: TNO - Work, Health and Care, PO Box 3005, 2301 DA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Kimi
authors: K
authors: Uegaki
authors: TNO - Work, Health and Care, PO Box 3005, 2301 DA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Catharina P B
authors: CP
authors: van der Ploeg
authors: TNO - Work, Health and Care, PO Box 3005, 2301 DA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Daniela B
authors: DB
authors: Treutlein
authors: TNO - Work, Health and Care, PO Box 3005, 2301 DA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Romy
authors: R
authors: Steenbeek
authors: TNO - Work, Health and Care, PO Box 3005, 2301 DA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Marjolein
authors: M
authors: de Weerd
authors: TNO - Work, Health and Care, PO Box 3005, 2301 DA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Seth N J
authors: SN
authors: van den Bossche
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Absenteeism; Chronic disease; Cost of illness; Economic burden of disease; Working population