title: [Estimating non work-related sickness leave absences related to a previous occupational injury in Catalonia (Spain)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the frequency of non-work sickness absence (ITcc) related to previous occupational injuries with (ATB) or without (ATSB) sick leave.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective longitudinal study. Workers with ATB or ATSB notified to the Occupational Accident Registry of Catalonia were selected in the last term of 2009. They were followed-up for six months after returning to work (ATB) or after the accident (ATSB), by sex and occupation. Official labor and health authority registries were used as information sources. An "injury-associated ITcc" was defined when the sick leave occurred in the following six months and within the same diagnosis group. The absolute and relative frequency were calculated according to time elapsed and its duration (cumulated days, measures of central trend and dispersion), by diagnosis group or affected body area, as compared to all of Catalonia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2,9%of ATB (n=627) had an injury-associated ITcc, with differences by diagnosis, sex and occupation; this was also the case for 2,1% of ATSB (n=496).With the same diagnosis, duration of ITcc was longer among those who had an associated injury, and with respect to all of Catalonia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some of the under-reporting of occupational pathology corresponds to episodes initially recognized as being work-related. Duration of sickness absence depends not only on diagnosis and clinical course, but also on criteria established by the entities managing the case. This could imply that more complicated injuries are referred to the national health system, resulting in personal, legal, healthcare and economic cost consequences for all involved stakeholders.
authors: Subdirecció General de Seguretat i Salut Laboral, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. emilia.molinero@gencat.cat.
authors: Emilia
authors: E
authors: Molinero-Ruiz
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Navarro
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Moriña
authors: Constança
authors: C
authors: Albertí-Casas
authors: Josefina
authors: J
authors: Jardí-Lliberia
authors: Jaume
authors: J
authors: de Montserrat-Nonó