The Impact of Low Back Pain on Temporary Incapacity for Work

• Main Authors: Andrea Margan Čačić, Zmago Turk, Miroslav Palfy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2009-12-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/408
• ISSN: 1318-0347; 1581-0224

Background: Low back pain is a major health issue in developed countries. In the last twenty years, costs related to medical treatment, absenteeism, and disability have increased and thus represent a burden not only for employers but also for the society as a whole. Th e objective of our research is to examine the impact of low back pain on temporary incapacity for work. Methods: In our study we have included all infi rmary patients, Talum employees, who visited the infi rmary in year 2008 due to low back pain, according to International Classifi cation of Diseases (1995) designated by the codes M 54.4 – Lumbago with sciatica, and M 54.5 – Low back pain (low pain, low back strain, lumbago). Th e data were obtained from the participants’ medical records. Sick leave was calculated by means of Severity Index (the number of days lost to one sick leave). Results: Th e research results have shown that the implementation of preventive physiotherapy had a benefi cial eff ect on the sick leave severity index. Th e index of the observed population was 20.85 and as such considerably lower than the Slovenian average in every category. Conclusions: Working condition and healthy life style infl uence sick leave due to low back pain. In order to improve working capacity of their workers and reduce the costs of medical treatment; conscious employers will actively support various programmes to improve both of them.