Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on March 15, 2008
Occupational Medicine 2008 58(4):302-304; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqn019
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Short Report |
Shift work and sickness absence
National Research Center for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Background Sickness absence is increasing in public work places in Denmark where shift work is common.
Aims The aim of this prospective study was to predict the hazard ratio (HR) of short- and long-term sickness absence due to shift work in Danish shift workers.
Methods A total of 1008 shift workers and 4009 day workers were followed up for short- and long-time sickness absence.
Results Among shift workers, the HR of sickness absence lasting 
2 weeks was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.71–1.18) for men and 0.90 for women (95% CI: 0.71–1.14). For sickness absence lasting 8 weeks, the HR was 1.33 (95% CI: 0.91–1.94) for men and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.81–1.59) for women.
Conclusion This study was inconclusive in proving any link between shift work and absenteeism after controlling for age, education, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity, psychosocial and physical work environment factors.
Keywords Absenteeism; DREAM register; shift system
Correspondence to: Finn Tüchsen, National Research Center for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Tel: +45 3916 5284; fax: +45 3916 5201; e-mail: ftu{at}nrcwe.dk