[Non-occupational temporary sickness absence in Catalonia, 2007-2010]

To describe nonoccupational temporary sickness absence episodes registered in Catalonia between 2007 and 2010.

We analysed 4,273,601 sickness absence episodes (SA) that came to closure between 2007 and 2010, registered through Catalonian Primary Health centers. Annual incidence rates per 100 workers, and median and mean duration of days lost per worker were examined by gender, age, province, social security scheme, and major ICD-10 diagnostic groups.

There was a consistent downward trend in mean duration of days lost per worker (from 12.2 days in 2007 to 10.8 in 2010), and in incidence rates (from 34.4 to 30.4 cases per 100 workers). This pattern was observed in both men and women, although overall men had a lower incidence, median duration and mean days lost per worker than women. The most frequent diagnostic groups were respiratory diseases (about 7 episodes per 100 workers), musculoskeletal disorders (decreasing from 6.9 to 3.2 over the study period), and infections (about 4 episodes per 100 workers). The longest median durations were those associated with neoplasms (about 50 days), mental disorders (30 days) and cardiovascular diseases (between 20 and 30 days).

These trends may serve as a baseline for planning and evaluating policies directed at better management of sickness absence in Spain.