Svetlana Solovieva - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Svetlana Solovieva

Research paper thumbnail of Vol 10 No 1

Research article Common interleukin-6 promoter variants associate with the more severe forms of d... more Research article Common interleukin-6 promoter variants associate with the more severe forms of distal interphalangeal osteoarthritis

Research paper thumbnail of Does Work Disability Contribute to Trajectories of Work Participation before and after Vocational Labour Market Training for Job Seekers?

The contribution of ill-health to labour market participation in relation to vocational training ... more The contribution of ill-health to labour market participation in relation to vocational training is unclear. Using nationally representative Finnish register data on 42,691 vocational labour market trainees in 2008–2010, we constructed latent trajectory groups of work participation in the open labour market three years before and after training, identifying groups called “High–High”, “High–Low”, “Low–High”, and “Low–Low”. We plotted further patterns of labour market participation within these trajectory groups and, using multinomial logistic regression, examined assignment to these groups focusing on previous work disability status. Those with compared to those without previous work disability had previous employment more often and spent less time in economic inactivity within the two trajectory groups with low pre-training levels of work participation. Having a previous work disability was associated with assignment to the “High–Low” trajectory group of work participation instead o...

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic Factors Associate with Lumbar Modic Changes

Introduction: Modic changes are vertebral endplate changes visible in magnetic resonance imaging ... more Introduction: Modic changes are vertebral endplate changes visible in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which associate with degenerative intervertebral disc disease. Twin studies suggest that intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain may be primarily explained by genetic factors. There are, however, no studies on genetic factors in Modic changes. Materials and methods: Eleven variations in eight genes (COL9A2, COL9A3, COL11A2, IL1A, IL1B, IL6, MMP-3 and VDR) were genotyped in an occupational cohort of 159 male train engineers and 69 male paper mill workers. All the study subjects were MRI scanned and evaluated for Modic changes. Results: Out of 228 subjects studied, 128 (56%) were found to have Modic change at one or more disc levels. 15% of them had exclusively Modic type I while 32% had exclusively Modic II changes. 10% of the subjects had both type I and type II changes. When single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed independently, none of them significantly ...

Research paper thumbnail of O-146 Associations of employment sector and occupational exposures with full and part-time sickness absence: random and fixed effects analyses on panel data

Research paper thumbnail of RF-424 Sickness absence and mechanical and psychosocial work exposures across occupational groups in Norway

Research paper thumbnail of The prevalence of occupational exposure to ergonomic risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury

Environment International

Research paper thumbnail of Occupational and non-occupational risk factors of sickness absence due to a shoulder lesion

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

ObjectivesTo determine the associations of lifestyle factors and cumulative physical workload exp... more ObjectivesTo determine the associations of lifestyle factors and cumulative physical workload exposures with sickness absence (SA) due to a shoulder lesion and to calculate their population attributable fractions (PAF).MethodsOur nationally representative cohort consisted of 4344 individuals aged 30–62 years who participated in the Finnish Health 2000 Survey. Education, smoking, chronic diseases and work exposures were assessed during interviews and leisure time physical activity with a questionnaire. Weight and height were measured. We followed the individuals for 15 years for the first SA due to a shoulder lesion. We used competing risk regression models. We calculated PAFs to assess the proportion of SA that was attributed to modifiable risk factors.ResultsIn the entire study population, risk factors of SA were age, daily smoking, being exposed for more than 10 years to physically heavy work and being exposed for more than 10 years to at least two specific physical workload facto...

Research paper thumbnail of Controlling for Structural Changes in the Workforce Influenced Occupational Class Differences in Disability Retirement Trends

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

We explored occupational class differences in disability retirement trends accounting for structu... more We explored occupational class differences in disability retirement trends accounting for structural changes in the workforce induced by the recent economic crisis and the following economic stagnation. Using nationwide register data on the general Finnish population aged 30–59 years, we examined trends in disability retirement due to all causes, musculoskeletal diseases, and mental disorders in 2007, 2010, and 2013. Applying propensity score (PS) matching to control for bias induced by structural changes in the workforce over time, we obtained 885,807 matched triplets. In the original study population, all-cause and cause-specific disability retirement declined between 2007 and 2013 for most occupational classes. In the matched study population, the disability retirement among skilled and unskilled manual workers sharply increased in 2010 and then declined in 2013. PS matching considerably attenuated the decline in disability retirement, particularly between the years 2007 and 2010...

Research paper thumbnail of Do individual and work-related factors differentiate work participation trajectories before and after vocational rehabilitation?

Research paper thumbnail of Functional polymorphisms in asporin and CILP together with joint loading predispose to hand osteoarthritis

BMC genetics, Jan 12, 2017

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease afflicting people in the Wester... more Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease afflicting people in the Western world and has a strong genetic influence. The aim of this study was to examine the association of two known functional polymorphisms in the TGF-β inhibiting genes, asporin (ASPN) and cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP), with hand OA and potential gene-occupational hand loading interaction. Statistically significant interaction of the CILP rs2073711 T and ASPN D15 alleles with hand OA was observed (OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.27-4.85, p = 0.008) in a Finnish hand OA cohort of 543 women (aged 45-63). When stratified by variation in working tasks, low variation of working tasks increased the risk further (OR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.35-6.66, p = 0.007). Based on the analysis of ASPN and CILP protein-coding regions, functional studies were performed with one observed variant, rs41278695 in the ASPN gene. Analyses showed that bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) mediated expression of aggrecan (Agc1...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk factors for first hospitalization due to meniscal lesions - a population-based cohort study with 30 years of follow-up

BMC musculoskeletal disorders, Jan 13, 2017

Meniscal lesions are among the most common injuries of the knee, yet limited epidemiologic data i... more Meniscal lesions are among the most common injuries of the knee, yet limited epidemiologic data is available on their risk factors. We investigated the association of lifestyle factors and physical strenuousness of work on knee injuries with a focus on meniscal lesions. We examined a nationally representative sample of persons aged 30 to 59 years, who participated in a comprehensive health examination (the Mini-Finland Health Survey). Subjects without any injury or osteoarthritis in the knee joint at baseline (n = 4713) were subsequently followed via the National Hospital Discharge Register up to 30 years. During the follow-up, 338 knee injuries were identified of which 224 were meniscal lesions. Obesity and regular leisure time physical exercise were associated with an increased risk of first hospitalization due to meniscal lesions (hazard ratio (HR) 1.62 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.48 and 1.53, 95% CI 1.05-2.23, respectively). The types of sports predicting the highest...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk factors for low back pain: A population-based longitudinal study

Arthritis care & research, Jan 25, 2018

To identify risk factors for low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radicular pain and to assess whether ... more To identify risk factors for low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radicular pain and to assess whether obesity and exposure to workload factors modify the effect of leisure-time physical activity on LBP and lumbar radicular pain. The population of this 11-year longitudinal study consists of a nationally representative sample of Finns aged 30 years or older (N=3505). The outcomes of the study were LBP and lumbar radicular pain for >7 or >30 days in the past 12 months at follow-up. LBP and lumbar radicular pain were more common in women than in men. LBP slightly declined with increasing age, while lumbar radicular pain increased with age. Abdominal obesity (defined by waist circumference) increased the risk of LBP (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.40, 95% CI 1.16-1.68 for LBP >7 days and 1.41, CI 1.13-1.76 for LBP >30 days) and general obesity (defined by body mass index) increased the risk of lumbar radicular pain (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.12-1.85 for pain >7 days and 1.62, CI 1.16-2.26 ...

Research paper thumbnail of Early part-time sick leave results in considerable savings in social security costs at national level: an analysis based on a quasi-experiment in Finland

Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, Jan 19, 2018

Objectives We analyzed social security costs based on an earlier quasi-experiment that compared w... more Objectives We analyzed social security costs based on an earlier quasi-experiment that compared work participation between partial sickness beneficiaries and a matched group of full sickness beneficiaries. Methods Utilizing a population-based 70% representative sample, 1878 persons with part-time sick leave (intervention group) due to musculoskeletal diseases or mental disorders at an early stage of work disability and their propensity-score-matched controls with full-time sick leave were followed for two years. The outcome was the difference (absolute and relative) in social security costs between the intervention and control groups during follow-up. Costs of sickness absence, vocational rehabilitation, unemployment, and retirement days were calculated from national administrative registers. Results A cost reduction of €2395 per person per year [95% confidence interval (CI) -2890- -1899) was observed in the intervention compared with the control group. The cost ratio was 0.512 (95%...

Research paper thumbnail of Occupation, Physical Workload Factors, and Disability Retirement as a Result of Hip Osteoarthritis in Finland, 2005–2013

The Journal of Rheumatology

Objective.To identify occupations with a high risk of disability retirement as a result of hip os... more Objective.To identify occupations with a high risk of disability retirement as a result of hip osteoarthritis (OA), and to examine the effect of physical workload factors on the occupational differences in disability retirement.Methods.A total of 1,135,654 (49.4% women) Finns aged 30–60 years in gainful employment were followed from 2005 to 2013 for full disability retirement as a result of hip OA. Information on pensions, occupation, and education were obtained from national registers. Physical workload was assessed by a sex-specific job exposure matrix. We calculated age-adjusted incidence rates and examined the associations of occupation, education, and physical workload factors with disability retirement using a competing risk regression model.Results.Age-adjusted incidence rate was 25 and 22 per 100,000 person-years in men and women, respectively. Both men and women working in lower-level nonmanual and manual occupations had an elevated age-adjusted risk of disability retiremen...

Research paper thumbnail of Arthritis diagnosis and symptoms are positively associated with specific physical job exposures in lower- and middle-income countries: cross-sectional results from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)

BMC public health, Jan 8, 2018

In higher income countries, work-related squatting and heavy lifting have been associated with in... more In higher income countries, work-related squatting and heavy lifting have been associated with increased arthritis risk. Here, we address the paucity of data regarding associations between arthritis and work-related physical stressors in lower- and middle-income countries. Data were extracted from the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 (2007-10) for adults (aged ≥50 years) from Ghana, India, Russia and South Africa for whom detailed occupation data was available (n = 21,389; 49.2% women). Arthritis cases were identified using a symptom-defined algorithm (current) and self-reported doctor-diagnosis (lifetime). A sex-specific Job Exposure Matrix was used to classify work-related stressors: heavy physical work, kneeling/squatting, heavy lifting, arm elevation and awkward trunk posture. Using the International Standard Classification of Occupations, we linked SAGE and the Job Exposure Matrix. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between arthritis a...

Research paper thumbnail of Cause-specific sickness absence trends by occupational class and industrial sector in the context of recent labour market changes: a Finnish panel data study

BMJ open, Apr 7, 2018

We aimed to provide previously unestablished information on population-based differences in cause... more We aimed to provide previously unestablished information on population-based differences in cause-specific sickness absence trends between occupational classes and further between four large industrial sectors within the different occupational classes while controlling for other socioeconomic factors and employment patterns. We focused on the period 2005-2013, during which the labour market underwent large economic and structural changes in many countries. Register-based panel data study. Large representative datasets on Finnish wage earners aged 25-59 years. Annual risk of sickness absence (>10 working days) based on repeated logistic regression. Between 2005 and 2013, the proportion of employees with sickness absence decreased. Occupational class differences in sickness absence trends varied by disease group. Overall, the decrease in absences was smallest among lower non-manual employees. Sickness absence levels were highest in the health and social work sector and in the manuf...

Research paper thumbnail of Labour Market Segregation and Gender Differences in Sickness Absence: Trends in 2005-2013 in Finland

Annals of work exposures and health, Jan 29, 2017

Women have higher sickness absence rate than men, but less is known of changes in this difference... more Women have higher sickness absence rate than men, but less is known of changes in this difference over time. We examined gender differences in sickness absence trends focusing on gender segregation in the labour market. We used large nationwide register data on Finnish wage earners aged 25-59 and generalized estimation equations based on repeated logistic regression to estimate the annual risk of sickness absence lasting at least 2 weeks. Between 2005 and 2013, the age-adjusted proportion (%) of employees with all-cause sickness absence decreased from the initial levels of 10.6 among men and 15.1 among women by 16.7 and 13.6%, respectively. Among both genders, the largest decrease in sickness absence coincided with the peak of the economic recession in 2009. In sickness absence due to all causes and musculoskeletal diseases, also the excess decrease among men mainly occurred in 2009, and in sickness absence due to mental disorders 2 years later. In sickness absence due to all causes...

Research paper thumbnail of Sustained return to work and work participation after a new legislation obligating employers to notify prolonged sickness absence

Scandinavian journal of public health, 2018

Return to work (RTW) after prolonged sickness absence benefits both the individual and society. H... more Return to work (RTW) after prolonged sickness absence benefits both the individual and society. However, the effectiveness of legislation aiming to improve RTW remains uncertain. We examined whether sustained RTW and work participation were different before and after a legislative change enacted in 2012 (i.e. an intervention) that obligated employers to give notice of prolonged sickness absence to occupational health services. Two random samples (2010 and 2013) of the Finnish working aged population (70%, ~2.6 million each) were drawn. Using survival analysis, we assessed sustained RTW (≥28 consecutive working days) during a two-month follow-up after a sickness absence minimum of 30 calendar days in the pre- and post-intervention period. We also identified pathways for RTW with cluster analysis and calculated relative gain in work participation in the total sample and by several population subgroups. In the total sample, sustained RTW was 4% higher and the mean time to sustained RTW...

Research paper thumbnail of Change in body mass index during transition to statutory retirement: an occupational cohort study

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Research paper thumbnail of Legislative change enabling use of early part-time sick leave enhanced return to work and work participation in Finland

Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

Research paper thumbnail of Vol 10 No 1

Research article Common interleukin-6 promoter variants associate with the more severe forms of d... more Research article Common interleukin-6 promoter variants associate with the more severe forms of distal interphalangeal osteoarthritis

Research paper thumbnail of Does Work Disability Contribute to Trajectories of Work Participation before and after Vocational Labour Market Training for Job Seekers?

The contribution of ill-health to labour market participation in relation to vocational training ... more The contribution of ill-health to labour market participation in relation to vocational training is unclear. Using nationally representative Finnish register data on 42,691 vocational labour market trainees in 2008–2010, we constructed latent trajectory groups of work participation in the open labour market three years before and after training, identifying groups called “High–High”, “High–Low”, “Low–High”, and “Low–Low”. We plotted further patterns of labour market participation within these trajectory groups and, using multinomial logistic regression, examined assignment to these groups focusing on previous work disability status. Those with compared to those without previous work disability had previous employment more often and spent less time in economic inactivity within the two trajectory groups with low pre-training levels of work participation. Having a previous work disability was associated with assignment to the “High–Low” trajectory group of work participation instead o...

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic Factors Associate with Lumbar Modic Changes

Introduction: Modic changes are vertebral endplate changes visible in magnetic resonance imaging ... more Introduction: Modic changes are vertebral endplate changes visible in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which associate with degenerative intervertebral disc disease. Twin studies suggest that intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain may be primarily explained by genetic factors. There are, however, no studies on genetic factors in Modic changes. Materials and methods: Eleven variations in eight genes (COL9A2, COL9A3, COL11A2, IL1A, IL1B, IL6, MMP-3 and VDR) were genotyped in an occupational cohort of 159 male train engineers and 69 male paper mill workers. All the study subjects were MRI scanned and evaluated for Modic changes. Results: Out of 228 subjects studied, 128 (56%) were found to have Modic change at one or more disc levels. 15% of them had exclusively Modic type I while 32% had exclusively Modic II changes. 10% of the subjects had both type I and type II changes. When single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed independently, none of them significantly ...

Research paper thumbnail of O-146 Associations of employment sector and occupational exposures with full and part-time sickness absence: random and fixed effects analyses on panel data

Research paper thumbnail of RF-424 Sickness absence and mechanical and psychosocial work exposures across occupational groups in Norway

Research paper thumbnail of The prevalence of occupational exposure to ergonomic risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury

Environment International

Research paper thumbnail of Occupational and non-occupational risk factors of sickness absence due to a shoulder lesion

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

ObjectivesTo determine the associations of lifestyle factors and cumulative physical workload exp... more ObjectivesTo determine the associations of lifestyle factors and cumulative physical workload exposures with sickness absence (SA) due to a shoulder lesion and to calculate their population attributable fractions (PAF).MethodsOur nationally representative cohort consisted of 4344 individuals aged 30–62 years who participated in the Finnish Health 2000 Survey. Education, smoking, chronic diseases and work exposures were assessed during interviews and leisure time physical activity with a questionnaire. Weight and height were measured. We followed the individuals for 15 years for the first SA due to a shoulder lesion. We used competing risk regression models. We calculated PAFs to assess the proportion of SA that was attributed to modifiable risk factors.ResultsIn the entire study population, risk factors of SA were age, daily smoking, being exposed for more than 10 years to physically heavy work and being exposed for more than 10 years to at least two specific physical workload facto...

Research paper thumbnail of Controlling for Structural Changes in the Workforce Influenced Occupational Class Differences in Disability Retirement Trends

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

We explored occupational class differences in disability retirement trends accounting for structu... more We explored occupational class differences in disability retirement trends accounting for structural changes in the workforce induced by the recent economic crisis and the following economic stagnation. Using nationwide register data on the general Finnish population aged 30–59 years, we examined trends in disability retirement due to all causes, musculoskeletal diseases, and mental disorders in 2007, 2010, and 2013. Applying propensity score (PS) matching to control for bias induced by structural changes in the workforce over time, we obtained 885,807 matched triplets. In the original study population, all-cause and cause-specific disability retirement declined between 2007 and 2013 for most occupational classes. In the matched study population, the disability retirement among skilled and unskilled manual workers sharply increased in 2010 and then declined in 2013. PS matching considerably attenuated the decline in disability retirement, particularly between the years 2007 and 2010...

Research paper thumbnail of Do individual and work-related factors differentiate work participation trajectories before and after vocational rehabilitation?

Research paper thumbnail of Functional polymorphisms in asporin and CILP together with joint loading predispose to hand osteoarthritis

BMC genetics, Jan 12, 2017

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease afflicting people in the Wester... more Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease afflicting people in the Western world and has a strong genetic influence. The aim of this study was to examine the association of two known functional polymorphisms in the TGF-β inhibiting genes, asporin (ASPN) and cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP), with hand OA and potential gene-occupational hand loading interaction. Statistically significant interaction of the CILP rs2073711 T and ASPN D15 alleles with hand OA was observed (OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.27-4.85, p = 0.008) in a Finnish hand OA cohort of 543 women (aged 45-63). When stratified by variation in working tasks, low variation of working tasks increased the risk further (OR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.35-6.66, p = 0.007). Based on the analysis of ASPN and CILP protein-coding regions, functional studies were performed with one observed variant, rs41278695 in the ASPN gene. Analyses showed that bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) mediated expression of aggrecan (Agc1...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk factors for first hospitalization due to meniscal lesions - a population-based cohort study with 30 years of follow-up

BMC musculoskeletal disorders, Jan 13, 2017

Meniscal lesions are among the most common injuries of the knee, yet limited epidemiologic data i... more Meniscal lesions are among the most common injuries of the knee, yet limited epidemiologic data is available on their risk factors. We investigated the association of lifestyle factors and physical strenuousness of work on knee injuries with a focus on meniscal lesions. We examined a nationally representative sample of persons aged 30 to 59 years, who participated in a comprehensive health examination (the Mini-Finland Health Survey). Subjects without any injury or osteoarthritis in the knee joint at baseline (n = 4713) were subsequently followed via the National Hospital Discharge Register up to 30 years. During the follow-up, 338 knee injuries were identified of which 224 were meniscal lesions. Obesity and regular leisure time physical exercise were associated with an increased risk of first hospitalization due to meniscal lesions (hazard ratio (HR) 1.62 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.48 and 1.53, 95% CI 1.05-2.23, respectively). The types of sports predicting the highest...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk factors for low back pain: A population-based longitudinal study

Arthritis care & research, Jan 25, 2018

To identify risk factors for low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radicular pain and to assess whether ... more To identify risk factors for low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radicular pain and to assess whether obesity and exposure to workload factors modify the effect of leisure-time physical activity on LBP and lumbar radicular pain. The population of this 11-year longitudinal study consists of a nationally representative sample of Finns aged 30 years or older (N=3505). The outcomes of the study were LBP and lumbar radicular pain for >7 or >30 days in the past 12 months at follow-up. LBP and lumbar radicular pain were more common in women than in men. LBP slightly declined with increasing age, while lumbar radicular pain increased with age. Abdominal obesity (defined by waist circumference) increased the risk of LBP (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.40, 95% CI 1.16-1.68 for LBP >7 days and 1.41, CI 1.13-1.76 for LBP >30 days) and general obesity (defined by body mass index) increased the risk of lumbar radicular pain (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.12-1.85 for pain >7 days and 1.62, CI 1.16-2.26 ...

Research paper thumbnail of Early part-time sick leave results in considerable savings in social security costs at national level: an analysis based on a quasi-experiment in Finland

Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, Jan 19, 2018

Objectives We analyzed social security costs based on an earlier quasi-experiment that compared w... more Objectives We analyzed social security costs based on an earlier quasi-experiment that compared work participation between partial sickness beneficiaries and a matched group of full sickness beneficiaries. Methods Utilizing a population-based 70% representative sample, 1878 persons with part-time sick leave (intervention group) due to musculoskeletal diseases or mental disorders at an early stage of work disability and their propensity-score-matched controls with full-time sick leave were followed for two years. The outcome was the difference (absolute and relative) in social security costs between the intervention and control groups during follow-up. Costs of sickness absence, vocational rehabilitation, unemployment, and retirement days were calculated from national administrative registers. Results A cost reduction of €2395 per person per year [95% confidence interval (CI) -2890- -1899) was observed in the intervention compared with the control group. The cost ratio was 0.512 (95%...

Research paper thumbnail of Occupation, Physical Workload Factors, and Disability Retirement as a Result of Hip Osteoarthritis in Finland, 2005–2013

The Journal of Rheumatology

Objective.To identify occupations with a high risk of disability retirement as a result of hip os... more Objective.To identify occupations with a high risk of disability retirement as a result of hip osteoarthritis (OA), and to examine the effect of physical workload factors on the occupational differences in disability retirement.Methods.A total of 1,135,654 (49.4% women) Finns aged 30–60 years in gainful employment were followed from 2005 to 2013 for full disability retirement as a result of hip OA. Information on pensions, occupation, and education were obtained from national registers. Physical workload was assessed by a sex-specific job exposure matrix. We calculated age-adjusted incidence rates and examined the associations of occupation, education, and physical workload factors with disability retirement using a competing risk regression model.Results.Age-adjusted incidence rate was 25 and 22 per 100,000 person-years in men and women, respectively. Both men and women working in lower-level nonmanual and manual occupations had an elevated age-adjusted risk of disability retiremen...

Research paper thumbnail of Arthritis diagnosis and symptoms are positively associated with specific physical job exposures in lower- and middle-income countries: cross-sectional results from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)

BMC public health, Jan 8, 2018

In higher income countries, work-related squatting and heavy lifting have been associated with in... more In higher income countries, work-related squatting and heavy lifting have been associated with increased arthritis risk. Here, we address the paucity of data regarding associations between arthritis and work-related physical stressors in lower- and middle-income countries. Data were extracted from the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 (2007-10) for adults (aged ≥50 years) from Ghana, India, Russia and South Africa for whom detailed occupation data was available (n = 21,389; 49.2% women). Arthritis cases were identified using a symptom-defined algorithm (current) and self-reported doctor-diagnosis (lifetime). A sex-specific Job Exposure Matrix was used to classify work-related stressors: heavy physical work, kneeling/squatting, heavy lifting, arm elevation and awkward trunk posture. Using the International Standard Classification of Occupations, we linked SAGE and the Job Exposure Matrix. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between arthritis a...

Research paper thumbnail of Cause-specific sickness absence trends by occupational class and industrial sector in the context of recent labour market changes: a Finnish panel data study

BMJ open, Apr 7, 2018

We aimed to provide previously unestablished information on population-based differences in cause... more We aimed to provide previously unestablished information on population-based differences in cause-specific sickness absence trends between occupational classes and further between four large industrial sectors within the different occupational classes while controlling for other socioeconomic factors and employment patterns. We focused on the period 2005-2013, during which the labour market underwent large economic and structural changes in many countries. Register-based panel data study. Large representative datasets on Finnish wage earners aged 25-59 years. Annual risk of sickness absence (>10 working days) based on repeated logistic regression. Between 2005 and 2013, the proportion of employees with sickness absence decreased. Occupational class differences in sickness absence trends varied by disease group. Overall, the decrease in absences was smallest among lower non-manual employees. Sickness absence levels were highest in the health and social work sector and in the manuf...

Research paper thumbnail of Labour Market Segregation and Gender Differences in Sickness Absence: Trends in 2005-2013 in Finland

Annals of work exposures and health, Jan 29, 2017

Women have higher sickness absence rate than men, but less is known of changes in this difference... more Women have higher sickness absence rate than men, but less is known of changes in this difference over time. We examined gender differences in sickness absence trends focusing on gender segregation in the labour market. We used large nationwide register data on Finnish wage earners aged 25-59 and generalized estimation equations based on repeated logistic regression to estimate the annual risk of sickness absence lasting at least 2 weeks. Between 2005 and 2013, the age-adjusted proportion (%) of employees with all-cause sickness absence decreased from the initial levels of 10.6 among men and 15.1 among women by 16.7 and 13.6%, respectively. Among both genders, the largest decrease in sickness absence coincided with the peak of the economic recession in 2009. In sickness absence due to all causes and musculoskeletal diseases, also the excess decrease among men mainly occurred in 2009, and in sickness absence due to mental disorders 2 years later. In sickness absence due to all causes...

Research paper thumbnail of Sustained return to work and work participation after a new legislation obligating employers to notify prolonged sickness absence

Scandinavian journal of public health, 2018

Return to work (RTW) after prolonged sickness absence benefits both the individual and society. H... more Return to work (RTW) after prolonged sickness absence benefits both the individual and society. However, the effectiveness of legislation aiming to improve RTW remains uncertain. We examined whether sustained RTW and work participation were different before and after a legislative change enacted in 2012 (i.e. an intervention) that obligated employers to give notice of prolonged sickness absence to occupational health services. Two random samples (2010 and 2013) of the Finnish working aged population (70%, ~2.6 million each) were drawn. Using survival analysis, we assessed sustained RTW (≥28 consecutive working days) during a two-month follow-up after a sickness absence minimum of 30 calendar days in the pre- and post-intervention period. We also identified pathways for RTW with cluster analysis and calculated relative gain in work participation in the total sample and by several population subgroups. In the total sample, sustained RTW was 4% higher and the mean time to sustained RTW...

Research paper thumbnail of Change in body mass index during transition to statutory retirement: an occupational cohort study

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Research paper thumbnail of Legislative change enabling use of early part-time sick leave enhanced return to work and work participation in Finland

Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health