[Work absenteeism data--a source of information for epidemiological research in occupational risks?]

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Informatics

Context:

• Sickness absence data is valuable for identifying occupational health risks and specific diagnoses.
• A pilot project in the automobile industry was halted due to data protection concerns.
• Access to morbidity data from health insurance systems is crucial for epidemiological analysis.

Purpose:

• To test the utility of an industrial health information system for analyzing sickness absence data.
• To explore the epidemiological approach of comparing sickness absence incidences using diagnostic information.
• To identify specific reasons for increased work absence through diagnostic and workplace data analysis.

Summary:

• An age-adjusted comparison of sickness absence incidences, utilizing diagnostic information from health insurance data, can reveal specific health risks within industries.
• The National Federation of Enterprise Sickness Funds facilitated data analysis, uncovering previously unknown associations between myocardial infarction and obstructive lung diseases in the metallurgical industry.
• Further epidemiological tools, such as case-referent studies, are necessary to validate findings and establish causal relationships.

Impact:

• Demonstrates the potential of health insurance data for occupational health surveillance and risk identification.
• Highlights the need for robust data protection measures while enabling access to valuable health information.
• Provides a foundation for using epidemiological methods to uncover industry-specific health issues and inform preventive strategies.