Sickness absence among passenger car occupants following a Crash
Paper in proceeding, 2017

Sickness absence is a common consequence of road traffic crashes, with high costs for the individual and society. Yet, scarcely studied, therefore, the aim was to describe sickness absence among injured car occupants. A population-based study using register data was conducted, including all car occupants of working age living in Sweden, who in 2010 had specialised in-or outpatient healthcare due to a car crash (n=9427). Individuals were categorised based on age, sex, and injury type. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for a new sickness absence spell >14 days were estimated. After excluding the 9% already on sickness absence or disability pension, 10% had a new sickness absence spell >14 days. Sex and crash type were not associated with new sickness absence, while old age and being born outside Europe were associated with higher odds ratios. Odds ratios varied with the type of injury and injured body region. The odds ratio for sickness absence was highest for injuries to the spine and spinal cord odds ratio: 8.64 (95% confidence interval 6.45-11.57). Traumatic brain injuries except concussion had an odds ratio of 6.99 (4.04-12.08) while concussions had an odds ratio of 2.66 (1.80-3.93).

Traffic accidents

Insurance medicine

Traffic injuries

Sick leave

Car occupants

Author

Rasmus Elrud

Karolinska Institutet

H. Stigson

Folksams forskningsstiftelse

Karolinska Institutet

Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2)

Maria Ohlin

University of Gothenburg

Kristina Alexanderson

Karolinska Institutet

Linnea Kjeldgård

Karolinska Institutet

Emilie Friberg

Karolinska Institutet

Conference proceedings International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury, IRCOBI

22353151 (ISSN)

Vol. 2017-September 79-90

2017 International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury Conference, IRCOBI 2017
Antwerp, Belgium,

Subject Categories

General Practice

Forensic Science

Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology

More information

Latest update

3/21/2023