OBJECTIVES : Use objective data to compare the prevalence of Osteoarthritis (OA), the all-cause utilization of short- and long-term disability (STD+LTD,respectively) and workers'-compensation (WC) and explore changes over time.

METHODS : Retrospective analysis using the WorkPartners Research Reference Database (RRDb) from 2001—2019. For each year, employees with medical-claims for OA were identified and the prevalence was calculated. For each-benefit analysis focused on the percent of eligible-employees utilizing each benefit, leave-length(in days) and the payments as a-%-of-salary (MedianPay) were calculated. Workplace-accidents were paid under the WC-benefit. Disability/WC payments included lump-sum distributions and potentially extended beyond the year initiated. WC-claims without absence from work(medical-only) were excluded. Because sick-leave(SL) may be taken for any reason, leaves and payments under the SL-benefit were excluded. All claims filed for the subjects with OA were included based on the year initiated. For each benefit, average leave-length and MedianPay were calculated and compared with baseline (2001).

RESULTS : The prevalence of OA increased from 1.8% at baseline to almost 3.8% at the end of the study-period. At baseline: 16.4% filed STD-claims, 0.7% filed LTD-claims, and 1.4% filed WC-claims, STD-claims lasted 45.5 mean-days and paid 61.5% of salary (median); LTD-claims lasted 141.9 mean-days and paid 38.3% of salary; WC-claims lasted 81.2 mean-days and paid 578.6% of-salary. From 2002—2019: for STD, 16.8%—26.4% of eligibles filed-claims lasting 79.3%–124.4% of baseline-days (BDs) and 52.0%—131.6% of MedianPay; for LTD 0.6%—2.8% filed-claims lasting 80.6%—501% of BDs and 78.8%—198.1% of MedianPay; For WC 0.6%—2.8% filed-claims lasting 65.5%—268.3% of BDs and 69.6%—326.5% of MedianPay. MedianPay was highest in 2011(STD), 2019(LTD), and 2005(WC). Claims-lengths were longest in 2019(STD), 2005(LTD) and 2007(WC).

CONCLUSIONS : Management of Osteoarthritis is a growing concern for employers. Employees with OA used a different mix of absence benefits over time with varying durations and payments. Using a constant cost over time for all benefits is not accurate or appropriate.