The influence of medical work leaves in the perception of health and quality of life of adult individuals

ABSTRACT This study compared perceptions on health and quality of life among active workers and workers on leave attended at the basic health units of the city of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We evaluated 111 workers through a questionnaire with social, demographic, and occupational data, and evaluation on health perception and SF-36 for quality of life. Data were submitted to descriptive analysis, Chi-square test for comparison of perception on health, and Mann-Whitney U test for comparison of quality of life. More than half of the sample was female (63.1%), averagely aged 36 years. As for the current situation at work, most of them was actively working (69.4%), and 30.6% were on leave, with an average of 2.85 months away from work. Over 75% of respondents rated their health as very good or good, and 23.4% as regular, bad, or very bad. The workers on leave had significantly worse quality of life in the areas of functional capacity, physical appearance, pain, general health state, in social, emotional, and mental health aspect, and worse health perception when compared to active workers. Being outside the labor market was associated with a worse perception of health and quality of life. Thus, actions and policies for insertion of adult individuals in labor-related activities should be encouraged.