[Supraspinatus tendon affection and sick leave]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Occupational Health
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Rotator cuff disease, specifically supraspinatus tendon damage from work overload, is a prevalent issue causing significant sick leave.
• Understanding the relationship between disease severity, occupation, and sick leave is crucial for managing this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare sick leave requirements based on different stages of supraspinatus tendon disease.
• To analyze sick leave patterns across five distinct occupational groups.

Main Methods:

• Patients diagnosed with rotator cuff disease were categorized by disease stage (tendonitis, partial rupture, total rupture).
• Occupations were grouped based on biomechanical demands: general services, civil construction, domestic workers, farm workers, and security guards.
• Statistical analyses included Pearson's chi-square test, dependence analysis, and exact tests.

Main Results:

• 55% of participants were on sick leave.
• General services (38.71%) and farm workers (22.58%) showed the highest rates of sick leave.
• Tendonitis was the most frequent cause for sick leave (p<0.05), and farm work correlated with longer unfitness for duty (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

• Tendonitis is a primary driver of sick leave in rotator cuff disease.
• Occupational factors, particularly in farm work and general services, significantly influence sick leave duration and incidence.
• Targeted interventions for specific occupations and disease stages may reduce work-related absenteeism.