Sickness Absence Duration Across Twenty Different Pathologies: A Systematic Review

There is a clear need for a structured synthesis of the literature on sickness absence duration (SAD). This systematic review aims to summarize existing literature on SAD across twenty different pathologies, supporting health care practitioners (HCPs) and policymakers in making informed decisions regarding work resumption and rehabilitation duration.

A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, incorporating both scientific and gray literature. Twenty pathologies were selected based on their prevalence in work disability, as identified by disability management experts. These include seven musculoskeletal, six neurologic, three psychiatric, two pulmonary pathologies and one endocrine, gastro-intestinal and dermatological pathology. Articles were sourced from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL, while gray literature was obtained from relevant websites chosen by the steering committee.

In this review, a total of 4,826 scientific articles and 770 documents were screened, resulting in 69 included studies. The number of identified records per pathology varied widely, ranging from none to ten. Guidelines are presented for epicondylitis lateralis, hip prothesis and medial collateral ligament knee injuries. No information was reported on epilepsy, obsessive compulsive disorder, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. For the remaining fifteen conditions observed SAD was reported, ranging from 1.04 days to 11.4 years, with a median of 24 days.

This study provides an extensive overview of existing data on SAD. However, the evidence is insufficient to support a clear consensus or the development of guideline recommendations. Since there is little information on SAD, future research should establish consistent and reliable SAD, as well as explore the development of peer-comparison feedback mechanisms that could enhance sick leave and return to work guidance for HCPs.