Influence of lifestyle risk factors on work ability and sick leave in a general working population in Norway: a 5-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess (1) whether lifestyle risk factors are related to work ability and sick leave in a general working population over time, and (2) these associations within specific disease groups (ie, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and mental illness). SETTING: Telemark county, in the south-eastern part of Norway. DESIGN: Longitudinal study with 5 years follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: The Telemark study is a longitudinal study of the general working population in Telemark county, Norway, aged 16 to 50 years at baseline in 2013 (n=7952) and after 5-year follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURE: Self-reported information on work ability (moderate and poor) and sick leave (short-term and long-term) was assessed at baseline, and during a 5-year follow-up. RESULTS: Obesity (OR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.32 to 2.05) and smoking (OR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.35 to 1.96) were associated with long-term sick leave and, less strongly, with short-term sick leave. An unhealthy diet (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.43), and smoking (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.25) were associated with poor work ability and, to a smaller extent, with moderate work ability. A higher lifestyle risk score was associated with both sick leave and reduced work ability. Only few associations were found between unhealthy lifestyle factors and sick leave or reduced work ability within disease groups. CONCLUSION: Lifestyle risk factors were associated with sick leave and reduced work ability. To evaluate these associations further, studies assessing the effect of lifestyle interventions on sick leave and work ability are needed.

Lifestyle, sick leave and work ability among Norwegian employees with asthma-A population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in Telemark County, Norway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether physician-diagnosed asthma modifies the associations between multiple lifestyle factors, sick leave and work ability in a general working population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Telemark County, Norway, in 2013. A sample of 16 099 respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire. We obtained complete data on lifestyle, work ability and sick leave for 10 355 employed persons aged 18-50 years. We modelled sick leave and work ability using multiple logistic regression, and introduced interaction terms to investigate whether associations with lifestyle factors were modified by asthma status. RESULTS: Several lifestyle risk factors and a multiple lifestyle risk index were associated with sick leave and reduced work ability score among persons both with and without physician-diagnosed asthma. A stronger association between lifestyle and sick leave among persons with asthma was confirmed by including interaction terms in the analysis: moderate lifestyle risk score * asthma OR = 1.4 (95% CI 1.02-2.1); high lifestyle risk score * asthma OR = 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.3); very high lifestyle risk score * asthma OR = 1.6 (95% CI 0.97-2.7); obesity * asthma OR = 1.5 (95% CI 1.02-2.1); past smoking * asthma OR = 1.4 (95% CI 1.01-1.9); and current smoking * asthma OR = 1.4 (95% CI 1.03-2.0). There was no significant difference in the association between lifestyle and work ability score among respondents with and without asthma. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we found that physician-diagnosed asthma modified the association between lifestyle risk factors and sick leave. Asthma status did not significantly modify these associations with reduced work ability score. The results indicate that lifestyle changes could be of particular importance for employees with asthma.

Lifestyle and work ability in a general working population in Norway: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between multiple lifestyle-related risk factors (unhealthy diet, low leisure-time physical activity, overweight/obesity and smoking) and self-rated work ability in a general working population. SETTING: Population-based cross-sectional study, in Telemark County, Norway, 2013. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 50 000 subjects was invited to answer a self-administered questionnaire and 16 099 responded. Complete data on lifestyle and work ability were obtained for 10 355 participants aged 18-50 years all engaged in paid work during the preceding 12 months. OUTCOME MEASURE: Work ability was assessed using the Work Ability Score (WAS)-the first question in the Work Ability Index. To study the association between multiple lifestyle risk factors and work ability, a lifestyle risk index was constructed and relationships examined using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Low work ability was more likely among subjects with an unhealthy diet (ORadj 1.3, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.5), inactive persons (ORadj 1.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.6), obese respondents (ORadj 1.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.7) and former and current smokers (ORadj 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4 and 1.3, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.5, respectively). An additive relationship was observed between the lifestyle risk index and the likelihood of decreased work ability (moderate-risk score: ORadj 1.3; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.6; high-risk score: ORadj 1.9; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.2; very high risk score: ORadj 2.4; 95% CI 1.9 to 3.0). The overall population attributable fraction (PAF) of low work ability based on the overall risk index was 38%, while the PAFs of physical activity, smoking, body mass index and diet were 16%, 11%, 11% and 6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle risk factors were associated with low work ability. An additive relationship was observed. The findings are considered relevant to occupational intervention programmes aimed at prevention and improvement of decreased work ability.