[Short-term time off work: its characteristics at a health centre from 2000-2002 inclusive]

To describe short-term time off work procedures, its duration and the determining factors in an active population covered by health insurance at a health centre.

Descriptive and observational study of prevalence.

Ribadeo Health Centre, Lugo, Spain.

All sickness certificates issued in 2000-2002 were included (n=1714).

The age and sex of each patient, amount of time off, place of residence (rural/urban), job (according to CNAE-93), type of social security cover, and cause of illness (according to CIE-9) were all recorded.

The short-term time off rate ran at 14.79 per 100 persons a year. Mean age was 40.13 (SD, 12.08); 936 (54.6%) were male. 85.7% of time-off periods were due to chronic illness, 12.2% to accidents not at work and 2.1% to accidents at work. Main associated pathologies were bone and muscular problems (25.7%), respiratory system problems (16.4%), and traumatisms (16.2%). All episodes accounted for the loss of 114,355 working days. Mean days lost per worker were 99.79 (SD, 136.37). Mean days lost per episode were 66.72 (SD, 98.79). Multivariate analysis showed that longer episodes were associated with older patients, women and the self-employed or workers at home. The longest periods off work were caused by cancer and mental disorders.

Age, sex, job, and pathology are variables related to short-term time off work.