TY - JOUR
T1 - Higher leisure-time physical activity is associated with lower sickness absence
T2 - cross-sectional analysis among the general workforce
AU - López-Bueno, Rubén
AU - Calatayud, Joaquín
AU - López-Sánchez, Guillermo F
AU - Smith, Lee
AU - Andersen, Lars L
AU - Casajús, José A
PY - 2020/6
Y1 - 2020/6
N2 - BACKGROUND: Prevention of sickness absence (SA) is a major public health challenge. Sufficient levels of physical activity may be an important protective factor. In contrast to the North European countries, little is known about physical activity behavior and its influence over SA in South European countries. METHODS: In the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2014, a total of 9512 Spanish workers aged 17 to 70 (46.5% women) replied to questions about SA (last 12 months) and the frequency of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex, education, occupational class, smoking habits, body mass index, and chronic disease (diabetes, hypertension, neck pain, low back pain, chronic depression and anxiety) was used to assess associations. RESULTS: The average SA among the participants was 6.9 days (SD=33.3) per year, whereas the prevalence of any SA episode was 22.0%. The prevalence of workers performing high or very high LTPA was 31.0%. In final sex and age-stratified fully adjusted models, the association between LTPA and SA remained significant for women aged 44 to 51 (β=-0.07, 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.03) for SA. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that higher LTPA is associated with lower SA in a particular category of workers, that might benefit from physical activity strategies.
AB - BACKGROUND: Prevention of sickness absence (SA) is a major public health challenge. Sufficient levels of physical activity may be an important protective factor. In contrast to the North European countries, little is known about physical activity behavior and its influence over SA in South European countries. METHODS: In the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2014, a total of 9512 Spanish workers aged 17 to 70 (46.5% women) replied to questions about SA (last 12 months) and the frequency of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex, education, occupational class, smoking habits, body mass index, and chronic disease (diabetes, hypertension, neck pain, low back pain, chronic depression and anxiety) was used to assess associations. RESULTS: The average SA among the participants was 6.9 days (SD=33.3) per year, whereas the prevalence of any SA episode was 22.0%. The prevalence of workers performing high or very high LTPA was 31.0%. In final sex and age-stratified fully adjusted models, the association between LTPA and SA remained significant for women aged 44 to 51 (β=-0.07, 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.03) for SA. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that higher LTPA is associated with lower SA in a particular category of workers, that might benefit from physical activity strategies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85085905175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.23736/S0022-4707.20.10434-1
DO - 10.23736/S0022-4707.20.10434-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32162505
SN - 0022-4707
VL - 60
SP - 919
EP - 925
JO - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
JF - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
IS - 6
ER -