[Influence of obesity on health care costs and absenteeism among employees of a mining company]. / Influencia de la obesidad en los costos en salud y en el ausentismo laboral de causa médica en una cohorte de trabajadores.
Rev Med Chil
; 137(3): 337-44, 2009 Mar.
Article
in Es
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19621174
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The health associated costs of obesity can represent between 2% and 9% of the total health costs of a given country.AIM:
To assess the impact of obesity on health care costs and absenteeism in a cohort of mine workers. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
Prospective study of 4.673 men, employees of a mining company, aged 49 +/- 7 years that were followed for 24 +/- 11 months. Total health care cost and days of sick leave were recordedfor each individual. The association between obesity and these variables was analyzed by logistic regression adjusting for co-morbidities, age and other variables.RESULTS:
Mean annual health care costs for obese workers were 17% higher (p <0.001) compared to workers with normal weight and 58% higher (p <0.001) for workers with severe and morbid obesity. Mean annual days of sick leave increased by 25%o in the obese (p =0.002) and by 57%o in subjects with severe and morbid obesity (p <0.001). For health care costs the most significant predictors were presence of diabetes mellitus (Odds ratio (OR) 6.21, 95%o confidence intervals (95% CI) 4.9 to 7.9), hypertension (OR 3-99; 95% CI3-4 to 4.6) and severe and morbid obesity (OR 2.55, 95%o CI 1.9 to 3-4). For absenteeism the most significant predictors were presence of diabetes mellitus (OR 1.58, 95%> CI 1.2 to 2.0), hypertension (OR 1,34, 95%> CI 1.2 to 1.6) and severe and morbid obesity (OR 1.50, 95%o CI 1.1 to 2.1).CONCLUSIONS:
Obesity increases significantly health care costs and absenteeism.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Health Care Costs
/
Absenteeism
/
Mining
/
Obesity
/
Occupational Diseases
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Chile
Language:
Es
Year:
2009
Type:
Article