Sickness absence as an indicator of health John
Sickness absence as an indicator of health? John Selander Mid-Sweden University
Background: �Sweden has high rates of sickness absence. �Why is it so? �Do Swedes have poor health?
Sickness absence in Sweden 1970 -2005
Sickness absence among men and women, 1970 -2005
Sweden compared to other European countries
Do Swedes have poor health?
Infant mortality Life expectancy �Sweden �Finland �Norway �France �Germany �Denmark �Netherlands �GB �Sweden �France �Norway �Germany �the Netherlands �United Kingdom �Finland �Denmark OECD Health Data 2005 UN, Human Development Report. 2004 Oxford
Healthy life expectancy Self-reported health �Sweden �France �Norway �Germany �the Netherlands �Finland �United Kingdom �Denmark �the Netherlands �Sweden �United Kingdom �France �Germany �Finland WHO (2003), The world health report Health in the. European Union. Special Eurobarometer 272 e (Norway missing)
Index of health and social problems � Sweden � Norway � the Netherlands � Finland � Denmark � Germany � United Kingdom Wilkinson R and Pickett K. (2009) The Spirit Level. Social exclusion � Norway � Sweden � the Netherlands � Denmark � Germany � Finland � United Kingdom � France Second European Quality of Life Survey (2007)
Work place safety Physical activity �Sweden �United Kingdom �Denmark �Finland �the Netherlands �Norway �Germany �France �Finland �Sweden �Denmark �United Kingdom �France �the Netherlands �Germany Work and health in the EU: A statistical portrait (2004). European Commision, 2004. The citizens of the European Union and Sport. Special. (Norway missing).
Mental well-being Suicide � Norway � Germany � the Netherlands � Denmark � Sweden � Finland � France � United Kingdom � The Netherlands � Germany � Denmark � Norway � Sweden � France � Finland Second European Quality of Life Survey(2007) European Detailed Mortality Database, WHO 2009
Use of alcohol Use of drugs � Sweden � the Netherlands � Finland � France � United Kingdom � Germany � Denmark � Sweden � Finland � France � Germany � Norway � the Netherlands � Denmark � United Kingdom WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2008 (Norway missing) US Census Bureau, Population Division, Interim State Population Projections, 2005
Use of tobacco Calorie intake � Sweden � Finland � United Kingdom � Denmark � France � the Netherlands � Germany � Sweden � Finland � the Netherlands � United Kingdom � Norway � Germany � Denmark � France WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2008. (Norway missing) OECD Health Database. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD health data 2007
Obesity Lung cancer incidence �Sweden �the Netherlands �Norway �France �Denmark �Germany �Finland �United Kingdom �Sweden �Finland �Denmark �United Kingdom �Germany �France �the Netherlands International Obesity Taskforce, Overweight and obese. 2002, International Tyczynski JE et al (2002). Lung cancer in Europe. ENCR Cancer. (Norway missing)
�Swedes (and Norwegians) seem to have good health! �Is perhaps sickness absence not a good indicator of health? �Should then, as often is the case, sickness absence be used as an outcome variable for different public health, DM and VR activities?
Thank you!
Sickness absence and unemployment in Sweden, 1970 -2005
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