title: Lifestyle factors, direct and indirect costs for a Brazilian airline company.
abstract: OBJECTIVE To analyze lifestyle risk factors related to direct healthcare costs and the indirect costs due to sick leave among workers of an airline company in Brazil. METHODS In this longitudinal 12-month study of 2,201 employees of a Brazilian airline company, the costs of sick leave and healthcare were the primary outcomes of interest. Information on the independent variables, such as gender, age, educational level, type of work, stress, and lifestyle-related factors (body mass index, physical activity, and smoking), was collected using a questionnaire on enrolment in the study. Data on sick leave days were available from the company register, and data on healthcare costs were obtained from insurance records. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association between direct and indirect healthcare costs with sociodemographic, work, and lifestyle-related factors. RESULTS Over the 12-month study period, the average direct healthcare expenditure per worker was US$505.00 and the average indirect cost because of sick leave was US$249.00 per worker. Direct costs were more than twice the indirect costs and both were higher in women. Body mass index was a determinant of direct costs and smoking was a determinant of indirect costs. CONCLUSIONS Obesity and smoking among workers in a Brazilian airline company were associated with increased health costs. Therefore, promoting a healthy diet, physical activity, and anti-tobacco campaigns are important targets for health promotion in this study population.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de SÃ£o Paulo, SÃ£o Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Maluf
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rabacow
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de SÃ£o Paulo, SÃ£o Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Olinda do Carmo
authors.initials: Odo C
authors.lastname: Luiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de SÃ£o Paulo, SÃ£o Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burdorf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D016272:Occupational Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors