Sickness absence due to gastroesophageal reflux diagnoses: a nationwide Swedish population-based study

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a major public health problem in the Western world. No previous population-based nationwide study has, however, examined the occurrence of sickness absence due to GERD diagnoses, that is, the aim of this study.

Nationwide population-based study based on Swedish registers including all 4,764,843 individuals registered as living in Sweden in 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2005, aged 20-64 years, not on disability or old age pension. Reimbursed sickness absence due to reflux diagnoses (ICD-10), that is, GERD (K21), esophagitis (K20), and heartburn (R12), was studied separately and combined. In analyses stratified by sociodemographic factors, inpatient/specialized outpatient care, antireflux surgery, and prescribed reflux medications those sickness absent in 2005 due to reflux diagnoses were compared to those sickness absent due to non-reflux diagnoses and to those with no sickness benefits 2005.

In total, 627 individuals had at least one prevalent sick-leave spell due to reflux diagnoses in 2005, of which GERD was the most common diagnosis. Of these, almost half (45%) was absent for ≥ 28 reimbursed sick-leave days due to reflux diagnoses. The proportions of low socioeconomic status (SES), inpatient and outpatient care due to tumors, mental disorders, circulatory disorders, GERD, antireflux surgery, and reflux medications were higher among those sickness absent due to reflux diagnoses compared to those with no sickness benefits.

In this nationwide population-based study a high proportion of those sickness absent due to reflux diagnoses was on long-term sick leave, a finding that warrants attention.