Factors associated with duration of disability benefits: a cohort study

To analyze factors associated with the duration of disability benefits due to work-related upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders.

Ambispective cohort study conducted with 563 insured workers from the General Social Security System who received temporary disability benefits due to work-related upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders in the city of Salvador, Northeastern Brazil, in 2008. The data came from an inquiry performed by the Regional Audit of the National Social Security Institute and from administrative records. Sociodemographic and work-related variables were analyzed, as well as characteristics of the health problem and aspects related to social security. Factors associated with time until the cessation of the benefit were identified through survival analysis techniques.

Low socioeconomic position (RR=1.29; 95% CI 1.02; 1.64), age below 39 years (RR=1.23; 95% CI 1.03; 1.47), income replacement by the National Social Security Institute < 100% (RR=1.24; 95% CI 1.04; 1.47) and high expectation of returning to work (RR=1.20; 95% CI 1.00; 1.44) are the categories related to higher rate of cessation of the benefit and with its shorter duration.

Factors that are not strictly medical, like socioeconomic position, age, expectation of returning to work and level of income replacement by the National Social Security Institute, seem to influence the benefit's duration. These hypotheses need to be tested with further confirmatory studies in order to improve the understanding of the process of determining incapacity for work.