Musculoskeletal diseases are the main cause of sick leave among oil industry workers in Brazil: results of a cohort study

Abstract Objective: to describe the incidence of sickness absence among workers of an oil industry in Brazil. Methods: retrospective cohort study conducted with 2,028 workers. Study data were obtained from workers’ medical records from 2012 to 2016. Indicators of absenteeism were calculated by sociodemographic characteristics, occupational characteristics, and morbidity. Results: of the participants, 87.6% were men, 49.2% with high school educational level, 46.9% aged 50 years or older, 65.1% worked in non-operational activities. The cumulative incidence of sick leave was 71.5% and its incidence rate, 25.8 per 100 person-years. We found the highest incidence rates amongst women (31.6), workers aged 50 years or older (29.9), lower educational attainment (29.2), work experience spanned 30 years or more (31.9), working in operational activities (27.9), and regular work schedule (26.1). Musculoskeletal (n=2,001), respiratory (n=1,016), and digestive diseases (n=967) were responsible for the largest number of sick leaves. The highest number of absence days was due to musculoskeletal diseases (n=11,640), followed by injuries (n=6,267) and mental disorders (n=5,042). Low back pain diagnostic was responsible for the greatest number of absence days (n=3,632). Conclusions: health programs aimed at controlling the identified morbidities should target women, those with longer work experiences, and those with lower educational attainment.

摘要
研究目的：描述巴西石油行业工人的病假缺勤发生率。
研究方法：本研究为回顾性队列研究，共纳入2028名工人，研究数据来源于2012年至2016年的工人医疗记录。基于社会人口学特征、职业特征及发病情况计算缺勤相关指标。
研究结果：纳入的参与者中，87.6%为男性，49.2%具有高中学历，46.9%年龄≥50岁，65.1%从事非操作类工作。病假累积发生率为71.5%，缺勤发生率为每100人年25.8例。分析显示，女性（31.6/100人年）、年龄≥50岁的工人（29.9/100人年）、低学历人群（29.2/100人年）、工作年限≥30年者（31.9/100人年）、从事操作类工作者（27.9/100人年）及实行固定工作制者（26.1/100人年）的缺勤发生率最高。肌肉骨骼系统疾病（n=2001）、呼吸系统疾病（n=1016）及消化系统疾病（n=967）是导致病假的最主要病因。缺勤总天数最多的疾病为肌肉骨骼系统疾病（n=11640），其次为损伤类疾病（n=6267）与精神障碍（n=5042）。其中，腰痛诊断相关的缺勤天数最多（n=3632）。
研究结论：针对上述高发疾病的健康管控项目，应将女性、工作年限较长者及低学历人群作为重点干预对象。