Trends in sickness absence in Denmark

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Sickness absence is a growing concern in Europe, with a prevailing assumption of increased prevalence.
• Understanding long-term trends in sickness absence is crucial for effective policy-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the actual trends in sickness absence in Denmark over the past two decades.
• To determine if sickness absence has indeed become more common.

Main Methods:

• Linear regression analysis was employed to examine time trends.
• Data were sourced from multiple Danish authorities including the Danish Employers Confederation, State Employer's Authority, Labour Force Survey, and Statistics Denmark.

Main Results:

• Data from most sources (Confederation of Danish Employers, State Employer's Authority, Labour Force Survey) showed stable sickness absence patterns over 20 years.
• Statistics Denmark reported a rise in cumulative incidence from 6.6% to 7.5% between 2000 and 2007.
• The study suggests this increase may be linked to changes in the risk population and reimbursement policies, not increased sickness absence behavior.

Conclusions:

• Sickness absence behavior has not significantly increased in Denmark over the last 20 years.
• Apparent increases in some reports may stem from overlooking changes in the risk population and reimbursement eligibility.
• Policy discussions on sickness absence should consider these nuances to avoid misinterpretations.