The absence from work shortens life

Employees who take long sick leave, such as colds, are more likely to die earlier than their healthy colleagues.

That is the “unexpected” finding of a study that, according to researchers in the British Medical Journal, could help identify individuals at risk for serious health problems.

According to the authors, long time off work appear to be a good marker for people who develop more serious disorders in the long term.

The study was conducted by scientists at the University of London who analyzed the health records of 6,500 government employees between 1985 and 1988.

Subsequently made a follow-up of men and women who died in 2004.

A total of 288 persons had died, nearly half because of cancer and another 25 % due to cardiovascular problems.

The scientists found that those who had been on sick leave for more than seven days in a period of three years, showed 66 % higher risk of premature death compared with those employees who had not been absent due to illness for a long time.

The highest mortality risk was found among those who had been on sick heart attack, stroke or related disorders.

They were four times more likely to die prematurely that employees without casualties lengthy illness.

But the most surprising was that absences due to illness and respiratory infections, such as colds, are also linked to an increased risk of death.

“This relationship is not only with serious medical disorders, but with a whole range of common health problems.”

The scientists also found that among these, those who had been low for psychiatric reasons, such as depression, showed a higher risk of dying of cancer.

“This was an unexpected result,” said Jenny Head.

“The people who tend to be depressed does not usually seek medical help.”

“Or maybe the predisposition to depression may affect the prognosis of cancer or monitoring of treatment.”

The results of this study could be a very useful tool for doctors to identify workers at risk of serious illnesses or health problems.