Absenteeism and Presenteeism Associated With Chronic Conditions in a Canadian Working Population
Author(s)
Wei Zhang, PhD1, Hong Qian, MSc2, Jacynthe L’Heureux, PhD Candidate1, Gary Johns, PhD1, Mieke Koehoorn, PhD1, Simon Woodcock, PhD3.
1The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 3Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
1The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 3Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Economic evaluations from a societal perspective require a comprehensive estimate of work productivity loss including absenteeism and presenteeism. This research aims to estimate absenteeism and presenteeism associated with chronic conditions among a representative sample of the Canadian workforce.
METHODS: We used the Canadian Community Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada in July‒December 2022. Absenteeism was measured as the number of absent workdays because of physical, mental or emotional health in the past 3 months. Presenteeism was measured using three accepted methods: 1) the number of days worked while experiencing health problems in the past 3 months; 2) the additional hours used to complete the same work in the past 7 days while experiencing health problems; 3) 0-10 scale of the impact on work productivity while experiencing health problems in the past 7 days. Survey respondents were eligible for these questions if they were 1) aged 15-75 years, 2) working at a job or business as their main activity in the past 12 months, 3) having worked at a job or business in the past 3 months, and 4) not “permanently unable to work”. Linear regressions were used to measure the associations between 14 different chronic conditions and absenteeism and presenteeism, adjusted for socio-demographic, work and lifestyle factors.
RESULTS: A total of 9,148 survey respondents were included in the analysis. Chronic fatigue syndrome (3.14 days), multiple chemical sensitivities (2.27) and fibromyalgia (1.92) were the conditions associated with the largest incremental absenteeism days. Stroke (13.18 days), chronic fatigue syndrome (10.89), and fibromyalgia (10.54) were associated with the largest incremental presenteeism days (Method 1). Presenteeism estimates from the three methods varied.
CONCLUSIONS: Different chronic conditions are associated with absenteeism versus presenteeism, and chronic conditions have differential impacts on absenteeism versus presenteeism. Our findings will inform the inclusion of absenteeism and presenteeism in future economic evaluations.
METHODS: We used the Canadian Community Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada in July‒December 2022. Absenteeism was measured as the number of absent workdays because of physical, mental or emotional health in the past 3 months. Presenteeism was measured using three accepted methods: 1) the number of days worked while experiencing health problems in the past 3 months; 2) the additional hours used to complete the same work in the past 7 days while experiencing health problems; 3) 0-10 scale of the impact on work productivity while experiencing health problems in the past 7 days. Survey respondents were eligible for these questions if they were 1) aged 15-75 years, 2) working at a job or business as their main activity in the past 12 months, 3) having worked at a job or business in the past 3 months, and 4) not “permanently unable to work”. Linear regressions were used to measure the associations between 14 different chronic conditions and absenteeism and presenteeism, adjusted for socio-demographic, work and lifestyle factors.
RESULTS: A total of 9,148 survey respondents were included in the analysis. Chronic fatigue syndrome (3.14 days), multiple chemical sensitivities (2.27) and fibromyalgia (1.92) were the conditions associated with the largest incremental absenteeism days. Stroke (13.18 days), chronic fatigue syndrome (10.89), and fibromyalgia (10.54) were associated with the largest incremental presenteeism days (Method 1). Presenteeism estimates from the three methods varied.
CONCLUSIONS: Different chronic conditions are associated with absenteeism versus presenteeism, and chronic conditions have differential impacts on absenteeism versus presenteeism. Our findings will inform the inclusion of absenteeism and presenteeism in future economic evaluations.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EE312
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), SDC: Mental Health (including addition), SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), SDC: Neurological Disorders