Assessment of the length of sick leave in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. / Evaluación de la duración de la baja laboral en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder that can lead to periods of work-related temporary disability (TD), which may result in the need for permanent disability. The objective was to assess the impact of IBD on patients' temporary disability by analyzing periods, duration, and causes. It also investigates risk factors influencing the severity, frequency, and duration of flare-ups and associated complications in IBD patients. METHOD: The study includes patients aged 18 to 65, with at least 1 day of TD in 2019 (Pre-COVID), referred or not by UMEVI, due to reasons related to IBD. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients were included, and in all cases, TD was associated with IBD. TD was higher in patients over 30 years old, with anxious depressive disorder, who required hospitalization and did not receive prednisone treatment (p<0.05). TD duration was longer in patients belonging to the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA): 67 days (IQR: 22-160) versus the General Regime (RG): 33 days (IQR: 8-110), with no statistically significant difference (p=0.120). The mean cost (€) per worker in this series was €745.5 (IQR: 231-2608.2). CONCLUSIONS: IBD has a significant impact on patients' temporary work disability. The duration of TD was longer in patients older than 30 years, with anxious-depressive disorder, who required hospital admission and did not receive steroid treatment.

Impacto Laboral, Económico, y Clínico Funcional en la Artrodesis Lumbar / Labor, economic, and clinical functional impact of lumbar arthrodesis

Introducción: El dolor lumbar, constituye un grave problema de salud, en España ocupa el primer puesto como causa de Incapacidad Temporal (IT). Diversos estudios han intentado responder a la cuestión de si compensa realizar intervenciones más intensivas. El objetivo del proyecto es analizar el gasto sanitario ocasionado, valorando los costes de IT al emplear el tratamiento conservador y con tratamiento quirúrgico. Material y Métodos: Estudio prospectivo comparativo entre pacientes con patología degenerativa lumbar tratados quirúrgicamente, y de manera conservadora. Se recogieron la edad y sexo, hábitos tóxicos, tratamiento farmacológico, actividad laboral, los segmentos afectados, y el número de días en situación de IT, con un seguimiento de 3 años. Resultados: Un total de 94 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio (55 pertenecían al grupo control, y 39 al grupo artrodesis). Los pacientes que fueron operados llevaban más días de IT, y entrañaban más costes de IT (p=0,018). Comparando los costes de la intervención quirúrgica para el grupo artrodesis vemos que no existen diferencias entre los pacientes jubilados/ en situación de incapacidad permanente. Después de tres años de seguimiento, el 89,1% del grupo control y el 52,6% del grupo artrodesis recibieron el alta. Conclusión: Los costes de incapacidad transitoria fueron mayores en los pacientes sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico. Los pacientes que no recibieron el alta supusieron mayores costes de IT. En los pacientes que recibieron el alta no hubo diferencias en los costes, descontando el coste del proceso quirúrgico. (AU)

Introduction: Low back pain is a serious health problem, and in Spain it occupies first place as a cause of Temporary Disability (TD). Several studies have tried to answer the question of whether it is worthwhile to carry out more intensive interventions. The project aims to analyze the health care costs incurred, assessing the costs of TD when conservative treatment and surgical treatment are used. Material and methods: Prospective comparative study between patients with lumbar degenerative pathology treated surgically and conservatively. Age and sex, toxic habits, pharmacological treatment, work activity, affected segments, and the number of days on TI were recorded, with a follow-up of 3 years. Results: A total of 94 patients were included in the study (55 belonged to the control group and 39 to the arthrodesis group). Patients who underwent surgery had more days of TD and more TD costs (p=0.018). Comparing the costs of surgery for the arthrodesis group, we see that there are no differences between retired/permanently disabled patients. After three years of follow-up, 89.1% of the control group and 52.6% of the arthrodesis group were discharged. Conclusion: Transitional disability costs were higher in patients who underwent surgical treatment. Patients who were not discharged had higher TD costs. In patients who were discharged, there were no differences in costs, discounting the cost of the surgical process. (AU)

El impacto de la COVID-19 en la incapacidad temporal de las personas que trabajan en centro / The impact of COVID-19 on sick leave of the persons working in nursing homes in Spain. Usefulness of sick leave for the surveillance of the pandemic evolution

Fundamentos: Los centros sociosanitarios representaron entornos de alto riesgo de contagio por SARS-CoV-2, tanto para los residentes como para las personas trabajadoras. Se evaluó el impacto en términos de incapacidad temporal (IT) por COVID-19 en las personas que trabajan en centros sociosanitarios y se comparó con la evolución de la pandemia en la población general de 16 a 65 años, para valorar la utilidad de la IT como indicador complementario de la epidemia por SARS-CoV-2. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de todos los procesos de incapacidad temporal por COVID-19 registrados entre el 15 de febrero de 2020 y el 1 de mayo de 2021 en establecimientos residenciales. Se obtuvieron las ratios de incapacidad temporal por contacto estrecho /incapacidad temporal por infección, las tasas de incapacidad temporal por 100.000 afiliados/ocupados y se compararon con la incidencia acumulada de casos COVID-19 notificados a la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (RENAVE). Resultados: Se registraron 261.892 procesos de incapacidad temporal. La mediana de la ratio de incapacidad temporal por contacto estrecho /incapacidad temporal por infección en residencias fue de 1,8 (Rango intercuartílico, RIC: 1,13,3), con valores menores a 1 en periodos. Las IT por infección fueron superiores en número, tasa y anteriores en el tiempo a los casos registrados en RENAVE. Por tipo de residencia, la tasa de incapacidad temporal osciló entre 81.679/100.000 ocupados en asistencia en establecimientos residenciales con cuidados sanitaros y 4.895/100.000 en otros establecimientos residenciales. Conclusiones: Los resultados confirmaron el enorme impacto que tuvo la COVID-19 en los centros sociosanitarios y la desigualdad que ha caracterizado este impacto.(AU)

Background: The nursing homes represented highrisk settings for SARS-CoV-2 infection, both for residents and for the employees. The COVID-19 impact on longterm care facilities (LTCFs) is evaluated, measured through the emplo yees sick leave (SL). The pandemic evolution in the general population aged between 16 and 65 years was analyzed together with the sick leave to assess the latter as a complementary indicator of the SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Methods: A descriptive study of all sick leave processes due to COVID-19 recorded between February 15th 2020 and May 1st 2021 in nursing homes was carried out. The close contact sick leave/infection sick leave ratios, the 100,000 affiliated/occupied sick leave rates were computed and compared with the COVID-19 cases cumulative incidence notified to the National Network of epidemiological Surveillance (RENAVE). Results: 261.892 SL processes were recorded. The close contact sick leave/infection sick leave median ratio in nursing homes was 1.8 (Interquartile range, ICR: 1.1-3.3), with values lower than 1 at certain periods. The infection sick leaves were higher in number and ratio and prior to the cases recorded in RENAVE. The sick leave ratio ranged between 81.679/100.000 occupied in nursing homes with medical care and 4.895/100.000 in other residential facilities. Conclusions: The results confirmed the dramatic impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes and the inequalities characterizing this impact. They also confirmed the potential useof sick leave as an alternative source for epidemiological and public health surveillance, especially now, when the transition of the COVID-19 surveillance to a system not including universal individual surveillance is being discussed.(AU)

Morbilidad laboral con incapacidad temporal en pacientes con artritis reumatoide / Work morbidity with temporary disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Introducción: La artritis reumatoide es una enfermedad autoinmune, progresiva que sin tratamiento deriva en discapacidad significativa y deterioro en la calidad de vida. Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia de morbilidad laboral con incapacidad temporal en pacientes con diagnóstico de artritis reumatoide evaluados en el Centro de Reumatología. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo prospectivo de corte longitudinal en 86 personas con artritis reumatoide durante octubre del 2018 a octubre del 2019. Los pacientes fueron evaluados a través del DAS 28, el HAQ-CU y la pérdida de días laborables (costos indirectos). Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 53,1 ± 6,6 años; predominó el sexo femenino (80,2 por ciento), con menos de un año de evolución (48,8 por ciento) y los pacientes universitarios (39,5 por ciento). El 69,8 por ciento presentó una actividad clínica moderada con discapacidad moderada (58,1 por ciento). Se presentó una media de 49,6 días perdidos por paciente, con un coste indirecto promedio de 883,9 cup. Se evidenció una relación débil positiva entre el índice de discapacidad y la duración de los certificados (coeficiente=0,407; p=0,000). Además, relación moderada entre la actividad clínica con el total de días perdidos (coeficiente=0,511; p=0,000); y relación débil positiva entre la duración del certificado (coeficiente=0,381; p=0,000) y la cantidad de certificados (coeficiente=0,342; p=0,001). Conclusión: Los pacientes con artritis reumatoide presentan importante morbilidad laboral con incapacidad temporal debido a la limitación funcional y discapacidad que genera la enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive autoimmune Disease that without treatment leads to significant disability and deterioration in quality of life. Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective, longitudinal - cut study was conducted in 86 people with Rheumatoid Arthritis from October 2018 to October 2019. The patients were evaluated through DAS 28, HAQ CU and lost working days (indirect costs). Results: The average age was 53,1±6,6 years, the female sex predominated (80.2 percent), with less than 1 year of evolution (48.8 percent), university education level (39.5 percent). Most of the patients are in clinical activity and moderate disability. There was an average of 49.6 days lost per patient, with an average indirect cost of 8983.9 cup. A weak positive relationship was evidenced between the disability index and the duration of the certificates (coefficient ꞊0,407 p=0,000). In addition, moderate relationship between Clinical Activity and total days lost (coefficient = 0,511 p=0,000). With a weak positive relationship between the duration of the certificate (coefficient = 0,381 p=0,000) and the number of certificates (coefficient = 0,342 p=0,001). Conclusions: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis present significant work morbidity with temporary disability due to functional limitation and disability generated by the disease(AU)

Carga de la psoriasis en Cataluña: datos epidemiológicos, comorbilidades asociadas, uso de recursos sanitarios e incapacidad laboral / Burden of Psoriasis in Catalonia: Epidemiology, Associated Comorbidities, Health Care Utilization, and Sick Leave

Antecedentes y objetivo: Disponer de datos epidemiológicos y de carga de una enfermedad es crucial para su control y óptima planificación. El objetivo es estimar la carga de la psoriasis en términos epidemiológicos, las comorbilidades asociadas, el uso de recursos sanitarios y la incapacidad laboral. Material y método: Se han analizado los datos de la encuesta de salud de Cataluña (ESCA) del 2016, el registro de morbilidad y utilización de servicios sanitarios de Cataluña (MUSSCAT) del 2016 y los datos recopilados entre el 2012 y el 2016 del sistema integrado de gestión de la incapacidad temporal (IT) del Instituto Catalán de Evaluaciones Médicas. Resultados:La prevalecía de la psoriasis en Cataluña con base en los datos de la ESCA se sitúa en el 1,8%. Los datos del MUSSCAT muestran que el número de casos incidentes se ha mantenido estable en los últimos años. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes en el paciente con psoriasis son la hipertensión arterial (35%) y la diabetes (15%). La estratificación de la población con psoriasis por niveles de riesgo situó al 40% en riesgo moderado-alto. El uso anual de recursos sanitarios de las personas con psoriasis es elevado (8,7 visitas de atención primaria; 2,8 consultas externas; 0,5 de urgencias y hospital de día; 0,2 de salud mental y 6,1 medicamentos). Los procesos de IT asociados con la psoriasis o artropatía psoriásica representaron el 0,04% del total de registros. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de la psoriasis en Cataluña es del 1,8%. La carga de la enfermedad es elevada, tanto en términos de comorbilidades del paciente como en el requerimiento del uso de recursos (AU)

Background and objectives: Epidemiologic and disease burden data are essential for disease control and optimal health care resource planning. The aims of this study were to estimate the epidemiologic burden of psoriasis and evaluate associated comorbidities, health care utilization, and sick leave. Material and methods: We collected data from the 2016 Catalan Health Survey (ESCA), the Catalan Registry of Morbidity and Utilization of Health Care Services (MUSSCAT) (2016), and the database of the Catalan Medical Evaluations Institute (ICAM) (2012–2016). Results: The prevalence of psoriasis in Catalonia according to 2016 ESCA data is approximately 1.8%. The MUSSCAT registry data indicate that the incidence has remained stable in recent years. The most common comorbidities associated with psoriasis are hypertension (35%) and diabetes (15%). Forty percent of patients with psoriasis have a moderate to high risk for death or high health resource utilization. Annual use of resources by psoriasis patients is high: they make a mean of 8.7 primary care visits, 2.8 outpatient visits, 0.5 emergency and day hospital visits, 0.2 mental health visits, and use 6.1 medications. Sick leave due to psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis accounted for 0.04% of all cases. Conclusions:The prevalence of psoriasis in Catalonia is high at 1.8%. The disease burden is also high, both in terms of comorbidities and health care utilization (AU)

La incapacidad temporal laboral en los tiempos del COVID-19, aspectos preventivos y consecuencias / Temporary incapacity for work (sick leave) in the times of COVID-19, preventive aspects and consequences

Introducción: La incapacidad temporal por COVID-19 fue regulada de forma expresa, mediante diversas normas e instrucciones, cubriendo tanto el aislamiento por contacto, por infección o para trabajadores sensibles. Supuso la integración de la protección preventiva laboral amparada su protección en una la prestación económica dotada de mayor cuantía. Analizando las consecuencias de la pandemia en la primera ola, confinamiento, desescalada y vuelta a la normalidad, meses de marzo a octubre, el impacto «colapsante» del COVID-19 en el sistema sanitario supuso la paralización y el aumento de listas de espera para pruebas, operaciones y consultas no urgentes del resto de patologías, y consecuentemente un elevado incremento de la duración media de las bajas laborales por todos los procesos, en el confinamiento y la desescalada en un 84,48% y en un 25,27% las bajas prolongadas que alcanzaron más de 365 días. En consecuencia, el COVID-19 como efecto colateral supuso una mala evolución del resto de procesos, prolongando la duración de las incapacidades temporales, lo que supone un empeoramiento de la salud laboral, un riesgo mayor de no retorno al trabajo que sucede en las bajas largas, mayor riesgo de desempleo, un mayor gasto en prestaciones y un deterioro económico para empresas y autónomos. La incapacidad temporal por COVID-19 suponía al final de octubre 2020 el 38,73% de todas las bajas. Material y Método: Se analizaron los datos suministrados por la Seguridad Social, por el INSS y el Ministerio de Sanidad, se elaboraron para poder extraer datos para poder valorar el impacto del COVID-19 en la incapacidad temporal laboral. Se revisaron hasta octubre de 2019 las siguientes bases de datos bibliográficas: SciELO, PUBMED. Así mismo otras referencias que incluimos en bibliografía. Objetivo: Recoger de forma sintética la norma aplicable, las situaciones protegidas, y cuantificar el impacto en las bajas, incapacidad laboral, de la pandemia. (AU)

Introduction: Temporary disability due to COVID-19 was expressly regulated, through various rules and instructions, covering both isolation by contact, by infection or for sensitive workers. It involved the integration of preventive labor protection covered by its protection in a financial benefit with the highest amount. Analyzing the consequences of the pandemic in the first wave, confinement, de-escalation and return to normality, months from March to October, the «collapsing» impact of COVID-19 on the health system led to the paralysis and increase of waiting lists for tests, operations and non-urgent consultations of the rest of pathologies, and consequently a high increase in the average duration of sick leave for all processes, in confinement and de-escalation in 84.48% and in 25.27% the prolonged casualties that reached more than 365 days. Consequently, COVID-19 as a collateral effect led to a poor evolution of the rest of the processes, prolonging the duration of temporary disabilities, which implies a worsening of occupational health, a greater risk of not returning to work that occurs during sick leave long, higher risk of unemployment, higher spending on benefits and economic decline for companies and the self-employed. Temporary disability due to COVID-19 accounted for 38.73% of all casualties at the end of October 2020. (AU)

Burden of Psoriasis in Catalonia: Epidemiology, Associated Comorbidities, Health Care Utilization, and Sick Leave. / Carga de la psoriasis en Cataluña: datos epidemiológicos, comorbilidades asociadas, uso de recursos sanitarios e incapacidad laboral.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidemiologic and disease burden data are essential for disease control and optimal health care resource planning. The aims of this study were to estimate the epidemiologic burden of psoriasis and evaluate associated comorbidities, health care utilization, and sick leave. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected data from the 2016 Catalan Health Survey (ESCA), the Catalan Registry of Morbidity and Utilization of Health Care Services (MUSSCAT) (2016), and the database of the Catalan Medical Evaluations Institute (ICAM) (2012-2016). RESULTS: The prevalence of psoriasis in Catalonia according to 2016 ESCA data is approximately 1.8%. The MUSSCAT registry data indicate that the incidence has remained stable in recent years. The most common comorbidities associated with psoriasis are hypertension (35%) and diabetes (15%). Forty percent of patients with psoriasis have a moderate to high risk for death or high health resource utilization. Annual use of resources by psoriasis patients is high: they make a mean of 8.7 primary care visits, 2.8 outpatient visits, 0.5 emergency and day hospital visits, 0.2 mental health visits, and use 6.1 medications. Sick leave due to psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis accounted for 0.04% of all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of psoriasis in Catalonia is high at 1.8%. The disease burden is also high, both in terms of comorbidities and health care utilization.

Lumbalgía laboral. "Un análisis de las valoraciones periciales realizadas en la sección de medicina del trabajo del departamento de medicina legal del Organismo de Investigación del Poder Judicial, en el año 2016" / Back pain at work. "An analysis of the expert evaluations carried out in the occupational medicine section of the legal medicine department of the Investigative Body of the Judiciary, in 2016"

Resumen:Las dolencias de la región lumbar constituyen un problema significativo y de importancia creciente, al punto que se ha considerado como un problema de salud publica en muchos países del mundo. Estadísticas de los Estados Unidos de Norte América estiman que aproximadamente dos terceras partes de la población adulta sufrió o sufre de dolor lumbar en algún momento de su vida, lo que constituye a la lumbalgía como una de las causas más comunes de la consulta externa de medicina general y especializada. Datos aportados por Instituto Nacional de Seguros, indican que tan solo en el año 2015 se atendieron 142863 casos por dolor lumbar, lo que significó 7.2 días en promedio de incapacidad temporal por persona, lo que asciende a la suma de 1028613 días (un millón veintiocho mil seiscientos trece), de incapacidad. Además de estos 142863 afectados, 1297 requirieron no sólo de incapacidad temporal, sino también de incapacidad permanente llegando a la cifra de 4.72% en promedio por persona. Con base en estos datos se decidió tomar los casos Valorados por Riesgos del Trabajo en la Sección de Médica del Trabajo de Departamento de Medicina Legal del Organismo de Investigación Judicial, cuya dolencia fuese la Lumbalgía y analizar cuales fueron los mecanismos de trauma implicados en el génesis de su dolencia así como las repercusiones que esta tuvo en cada uno de los evaluados.

Abstract:Diseases of the lumbar region are a significant and growing problem, to the extent that it has been considered a public health problem in many countries of the world. Statistics from the United States of America estimate that approximately two-thirds of the adult population suffered or suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives, which constitutes back pain as one of the most common causes of outpatient medical practice General and specialized. Data provided by the National Institute of Insurance indicate that only in 142863 cases of lumbar pain were treated in 2015, which meant 7.2 days in average of temporary incapacity per person, which amounts to 1028613 days (one million twenty-eight One thousand six hundred thirteen), of incapacity. In addition to these 142863 affected, 1,297 required not only temporary incapacity, but also permanent disability reaching the figure of 4.72% on average per person. Based on these data it was decided to take the cases Risks of Work in the Department of Occupational Medicine of the Department of Legal Medicine of the Judicial Investigation Agency, whose condition was Lumbalgia and to analyze the mechanisms of trauma involved in the genesis Of its ailment as well as the repercussions that this one had in each one of those evaluated.

Association Between Improvement in Cardiovascular Risk Profile and Changes in Sickness Absence: Results of the ICARIA Study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether changes in cardiovascular risk (CVR) are associated with the length and cost of sickness absence. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 179 186 participants was evaluated. Each participant's CVR (SCORE) was assessed on 2 consecutive medical examinations, approximately 1 year apart (365 ± 90 days). Cardiovascular risk was categorized as < 4% or ≥ 4%, and participants were divided into 4 groups according to changes in their risk between the 2 assessments. After the second CVR estimate, a 1-year follow-up was carried out to assess sickness absence. Differences between the 4 groups in terms of the total count of sickness absence days during the follow-up period were tested using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, participants who showed an improvement in CVR had a lower count of sickness absence days compared with both those who showed a worsening in risk and those who remained stable at ≥ 4% (RR, 0.91; 95%CI, 0.84-0.98). In comparison with participants whose CVR did not improve, more of the participants whose risk did improve had quit smoking (+17.2%; P < .001), and had controlled their blood pressure (+26.0%, P < .001), total cholesterol (+9.3%; P < .001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+14.9%; P < .001), and triglyceride levels (+14.6%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an improvement in CVR profile is accompanied by a decrease in sickness absence during a 1-year follow-up.

Assessment of the magnitude of geographical variations in the duration of non-work-related sickness absence by individual and contextual factors.

OBJECTIVE: To examine variation in the duration of non-work-related sickness absence (NWRSA) across geographical areas and the degree to which this variation can be explained by individual and/or contextual factors. METHODS: All first NWRSA episodes ending in 2007 and 2010 were analyzed. Individual (diagnosis, age, sex) and contextual factors (healthcare resources, socioeconomic factors) were analyzed to assess how much of the geographical variation was explained by these factors. Median NWRSA durations in quartiles were mapped by counties in Catalonia. Multilevel Cox proportional hazard regression models with episodes nested within counties were fitted to quantify the magnitude of this variation. The proportional change in variance (PCV), median hazard ratios (MHR) and interquartile hazard ratios (IHR) were calculated. RESULTS: We found a geographical pattern in the duration of NWRSA, with longer duration in northwestern Catalonia. There was a small, but statistically significant, geographical variation in the duration of NWRSA, which mostly decreased after adjustment for individual factors in both women (PCV=34.98%, MHR=1.09, IHR=1.13 in 2007; PCV=34.68%, MHR=1.11, IHR=1.28 in 2010) and men (PCV=39.88%, MHR=1.10, IHR=1.27 in 2007; PCV=45.93%, MHR=1.10, IHR=1.25 in 2010); only in the case of women in 2010 was there a reduction in county-level variance due to contextual covariates (PCV=16.18%, MHR=1.12, IHR=1.32). CONCLUSIONS: County-level variation in the duration of NWRSA was small and was explained more by individual than by contextual variables. Knowledge of geographic differences in NWRSA duration is needed to plan specific programs and interventions to minimize these differences.

[Effect of the sociodemographic, occupational, organisational and environmental variables on the duration of temporary sick leave in Spain]. / Grado de efecto de las variables sociodemográficas, laborales, organizativas y del entorno en la duración de la incapacidad temporal por contingencias comunes en España.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the relationship, and relevance of the effect between the duration of the cases of temporary sick leave, as an indicator of absenteeism, and several characteristics (sociodemographic, labor, organizational and the environment) of workers covered by the Social Security System in Spain. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 598,988 processes, between 15 and 365days. The relationships between length of absence, and several characteristics such as demographic, sociodemographic, occupational, organizational and environment characteristics were determined (using P values). The mean duration for each of the features is described, and the size effect is calculated to estimate the importance of the relationships found. RESULTS: There were significant relationships between the duration of temporary sick leave and several demographic characteristics (gender, age, nationality and length of service), occupational (wages, type of contract), organizational (economic sector, activity and size company), the environmental (region, state) characteristics. The age also showed a significant size effect (rxy=.134), especially after age 44. CONCLUSIONS: Only age had a significance effect on the duration of work absence, although there was also a relationship with the rest of the demographic, occupational and work environment characteristics. There was also evidence of a cross-effects between the variables, which could cause errors in interpreting the results.

[Temporary disability and its legal implications]. / La incapacidad temporal y sus implicaciones legales.

Temporary disability is the condition that workers face when, as the result of illness (common or professional) or accident (work-related or not), they are temporarily prevented from performing their work and require health care. The management of temporary disability is a medical act that involves (in addition to a complex clinical assessment) obvious social, occupational and financial connotations and requires continuing medical follow-up from doctors, as well as responses to medical-legal conflicts. The regulatory framework on the subject is extensive in the Spanish setting and highly diverse in the European setting. Beyond the regulatory framework, the repercussions of temporary disability are self-evident at all levels. Although determining temporary disability is a common medical act for practicing physicians, it is not exempt from risks or difficulties arising from the assessment itself and the characteristics of practicing medical care. Established medical-legal conflicts include the processing of health data and the requirements for transferring information related to workers' temporary disability to their company's medical services. The interest and usefulness demonstrated by the data obtained from forensic medicine for public health require the incorporation of these data into general healthcare information, as it could be essential to the surveillance of worker health. The recommendations established by medical societies, as good practice guidelines, are especially useful in this type of conflict.

[Costs of temporary disability in Spain related to diabetes mellitus and its complications]. / Costes por incapacidad temporal en España derivados de la diabetes mellitus y sus complicaciones.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the socioeconomic impact of diabetes, it is essential to estimate overall costs, including both direct and indirect costs (premature retirements, working hours lost, or sick leaves). This study analyzed indirect costs for temporary disability (TD) due to diabetes and its complications in Spain in 2011 by assessing the related ICD-9 MC codes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: For this purpose, the number of TD processes and their mean duration were recorded. The indirect costs associated to loss of working days were also estimated. RESULTS: In 2011, diabetes and its complications were related to 2.567 TD processes, which resulted in the loss of 154.214 days. In terms of costs, this disease represented for Spanish public health administrations an expense of 3,297.095.3 €, with an estimated cost per patient and year of 141 €. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest an urgent need to devise plans for prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes and its complications, as well as programs to optimize the available health care resources by creating multidisciplinary teams where occupational medical services assume an important role. A decrease in absenteeism would result in benefits for diabetic patients, society overall, and companies or public institutions.

Incapacidades temporales por accidentes de trabajo y de trayecto en los años 2006-2008 en una institución de seguridad social (un hospital de tercer nivel) en el estado de Jalisco, México / Temporary disability benefits due to labor accidents and commuting accidents in 2006- 2008 in a social security institution (a 3rd level hospital) in Jalisco state, México

Se realizó una investigación sobre incapacidades temporales por accidentes de trabajo y de trayecto en los años 2006 - 2008 en una institución de seguridad social -un hospital de tercer nivel- en el estado de Jalisco, México. En los años antes mencionados se expidieron 102, 117 y 122 incapacidades temporales, respectivamente. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el comportamiento en esos años de la accidentabilidad y establecer comparaciones entre ellos. Se revisaron los formatos existentes en lo referente a la investigación de accidentes que utiliza la Comisión de Seguridad e Higiene, proporcionados por el área de seguridad e higiene de la institución. Se obtuvo una accidentabilidad de 341 riesgos de trabajo, de los cuales 195 fueron accidentes de trabajo y 146 de trayecto en los periodos antes mencionados. En el año 2008 se dio el mayor número de accidentes de trabajo, con un 38,46 por ciento y los accidentes de trayecto en el año 2007 representaron el 39,72 por ciento del total de los años antes mencionados. En la categoría de los accidentados, la enfermera general en los tres años de la investigación fue la de mayor accidentabilidad. En lo referente al turno que laboraron, el matutino fue el de mayor accidentabilidad en cada uno de los años. En los años 2006 y 2007, en el mes de septiembre fue cuando ocurrió el mayor número de riesgos de trabajo, y en el 2008 el mes de noviembre. En la actividad que realizaba al accidentarse, con mayor siniestralidad fue caminando en los años estudiados..(AU)

Accidentes de tránsito como riesgo laboral ocurridos durante los años 2006 y 2007, valorados en la sección de medicina del trabajo del departamento de medicina legal / Traffic accidents and occupational risk occurred during the years 2006 and 2007, measured at the occupational health section of the department of forensic medicine

En los últimos años los accidentes de tránsito sufridos por los trabajadores mientras llevan a cabo su jornada laboral, han aumentado en número y severidad. En el presente trabajo se estudiaron los accidentes de tránsito que fueron valorados como riesgo laboral en la Sección de Medicina del Trabajo durante los años 2006-2007 (total de casos evaluados por esta causa 121). Obteniéndose del mismo una caracterización del trabajador afectado, siendo este, de sexo masculino, entre 30 y los 49 años, chofer o mensajero motorizado. Además se logró determinar que la mayoría de las lesiones presentadas por estos trabajadores correspondió con fracturas de los miembros inferiores (tibia y peroné) y con traumatismo craneoencefálicos, resultando como secuelas más destacadas el dolor residual y la limitación funcional, por lo que se les otorgó una incapacidad temporal y permanente acorde con la severidad de sus secuelas...