Exploring consequences of sickness absence - a longitudinal study on changes in self-rated physical health

Women experience sickness absence more often than men, but few studies have addressed the possibility that the sick-leave period itself could be regarded as an exposure with possible positive or negative consequences on health. The aim was to explore the association between experience of sickness absence and self-rated physical health. Interview data from population samples in 1990 and 1995 of women born in 1935, 1945, 1955 and 1965 (n=231) were used. 'Any sick-leave' and 'Long sick-leave' were used as exposure measures and analyzed in relation to change in self-rated physical health with multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for age and prior sickness absence. Separate analyses were performed for women with psychiatric disorders (DSM-III-R) and different level of domestic responsibility. The proportion reporting good health at baseline and follow up were lower when experienced sickness absence compared to those who had not. For women exposed to long sick-leave, the OR for remained poor health were 4.1 (95% CI 1.1-15.4), and for women with psychiatric disorders, the OR for a change from poor to good health was 9.9 (1.7-58.5). Women with high level of domestic responsibility and exposed to long sick-leave, had increased ORs for both a positive and negative change in health. This explorative study contributes to the sparse knowledge of consequences on health of sickness absence.