How Work Impairments and Reduced Work Ability are Associated with Health Care Use in Workers with Musculoskeletal Disorders, Cardiovascular Disorders or Mental Disorders

Kerstin G Reeuwijk,Leona Hakkaart,Alex Burdorf,Suzan J W Robroek

doi:10.1007/s10926-013-9492-3

Kerstin G Reeuwijk, Leona Hakkaart + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-013-9492-3

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Abstract

Purpose the aim of this study was to explore how work impairments and work ability are associated with health care use by workers with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), cardiovascular disorders (CVD), or mental disorders (MD). Methods in this cross-sectional study, subjects with MSD (n = 2,074), CVD (n = 714), and MD (n = 443) were selected among health care workers in 12 Dutch organizations. Using an online questionnaire, data were collected on individual characteristics, health behaviors, work impairments, work ability, and consultation of a general practitioner (GP), physiotherapist, specialist, or psychologist in the past year. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the associations of work impairments and work ability with health care use. Results lower work ability was associated with a higher likelihood of consulting any health care provider among workers with common disorders (OR 1.05–1.45). Among workers with MSD work impairments increased the likelihood of consulting a GP (OR 1.55), specialist (OR 2.05), and physical therapist (OR 1.98). Among workers with CVD work impairments increased the likelihood of consulting a specialist (OR 1.94) and physical therapist (OR 2.73). Among workers with MD work impairments increased the likelihood of consulting a specialist (OR 1.79) and psychologist (OR 1.82). Conclusion work impairments and reduced work ability were associated with health care use among workers with MSD, CVD, or MD. These findings suggest that addressing work-related problems in workers with common disorders may contribute in reducing health care needs.

Highlights

Health care use and subsequent costs are rising in Western countries [1, 2]
Hakkaart Institute of Health Policy and Management, Institute for Medical Technology Assessment, Erasmus University, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands with health care use among workers with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), cardiovascular disorders (CVD), or mental disorders (MD). These findings suggest that addressing work-related problems in workers with common disorders may contribute in reducing health care needs
While previous studies often focused on health care use for one particular disease, this study incorporated workers with three common disorders which account for a substantial proportion of health care expenditures. This present study aims to investigate the association of work impairments and work ability with health care use among workers with MSD, CVD, and MD

Summary

Introduction

Health care use and subsequent costs are rising in Western countries [1, 2]. In the Netherlands, health care expenditures have almost doubled in the past decade, which can only partly be attributed to aging of the population [3]. The total health care costs were approximately 74 billion euro in 2007 (for 16 million inhabitants) of which cardiovascular disorders (CVD) accounted for 9.3 %, mental disorders (MD) excluding dementia and mental disabilities for 9.1 %, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) for 6.6 % [4,5,6]. Numerous studies have reported that health care use is associated with the presence and severity of diseases [7,8,9]. It has been well documented that poor health is an important predictor of productivity loss at work, sickness absence, decreased work ability, and exit from work [15,16,17,18,19]

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