Updated by K Alexanderson and Pia Svedberg 20 May 2015 Page: 1 / 6 Department of Clinical Neuroscience Division of Insurance Medicine Sickness absence and disability pension - a prospective cohort study in a Swedish county This is a multidisciplinary project with the primary aim to increase the knowledge about risk factors for sickness absence and disability pension. But also, to increase the understanding of consequences of being sickness absent or being granted disability pension using a prospective county cohort (Östergötland). Professor Kristina Alexanderson is the principal investigator (PI) of this project that includes several databases. The population consists of all inhabitants in the county of Östergötland that in December 1984 were between the ages 18-64 years old. Linkages have been done to data from Statistics Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare, the National Social Insurance Board, and the project Diagnoses database. The latter consists of all sick-leave spells exceeding 7 days for the whole county of Östergötland during 1985-1987, including information on demography, occupation, and diagnose. Several longitudinal updates have been done with data from Statistics Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare the National Social Insurance Board in recent years lead by Kristina Alexanderson. The Diagnose database project was initiated by Professor Per Bjurulf, while longitudinal follow-ups on the database have been conducted at later stages, lead by Kristina Alexanderson. For example, new data collections using mailed questionnaires, interviews and sickness certifications. The base for this project is Linköpings universitet (LiU), but it is also a collaborative project between LiU and Karolinska Institutet (KI). An agreement has been reached between the universities about data access and project collaboration that is lead by Professor Kristina Alexanderson. This project involves researchers from different disciplines with a broad variety of educational background who collaborates. Several studies are ongoing and continuation of the project is planned. Within this project methodological development as well as carrier development is included, such as PhD education for doctoral students. Postal address Visiting address Telephone Web Karolinska Institutet Division of Insurance Medicine SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden Berzelius väg 3, 6th floor +46 8 524 832 00 Email: kristina.alexanderson@ki.se ki.se/im
Page: 2 / 6 Staff/collaborators Kristina Alexanderson, Professor. Principal Investigator of this project, KI, LiU John Carstensen, Professor, LiU Karin Borg, Statistician, PhD, LiU (KI) Sturla Gjesdal, MD, Professor, KI + Bergens universitet, Norge Jan Hagberg, statistician, PhD, KI Pia Svedberg, epidemiologist, PhD, KI Elsy Söderberg, post doc LiU Financial support This project was supported by a grants from the Center for Gender Medicine, KI 2007 Peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals 1. Ljungdahl L, Bjurulf P. The accordance of diagnoses in a computerized sickleave register with doctor s certificates and medical records. Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine. 1991;19(3):148-53. 2. Alexanderson K, Leijon, M, Rydh H, Åkerlind I, Bjurulf P. Epidemiology of Sickness Absence in a Swedish County 1985, 1986 and 1987. Scand J of Soc Med, 1994;22, 1, 2734. 3. Alexanderson K, Hensing, G Leijon, M, Åkerlind I, Rydh H, Carstensen J, Bjurulf P. Pregnancy-Related Sickness Absence in a Swedish County in 1985, 1986 and 1987. 1994, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1994; 48,5,464-470. 4. Alexanderson K, Hensing, Carstensen J, Bjurulf P. Pregnancy-Related Sickness Absence among Employed Women in a Swedish County. Scandinavian Journal of Enviroment, Work and Health. 1995;21:191-8. 5. Åkerlind I, Alexanderson K, Hensing G, Leijon M, Bjurulf P. Sex- Differences in Sickness Absence, in Relation to Parental Status. Scand Journal of Soc Med, 1996; 4,1,27-35. 6. Alexanderson K, Sydsjö A, Hensing G, Sydsjö G, Carstensen J. Impact of pregnancy on sex-differences in sickness absence. Scand Journal of Social Medicine, 1996;24,3,168176. 7. Hensing G, Alexanderson K, Åkerlind I, Bjurulf P. Sick-leave due to minor Psychiatric Morbidity: role of sex integration. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 1995; 30,1,39-43. 8. Hensing G, Alexanderson K, Allebeck P, Bjurulf P. Sick-leave due to psychiatric disorder: Higher incidence among women and longer duration for men. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 1996; 169, 740-746. 9. Leijon M, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Gender-trends in sick-listing with musculoskeletal symptoms in a Swedish county during a period of rapid increase in sickness absence. Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine.
Page: 3 / 6 1998:26:3;204-213. 10. Borg K, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Predictive factors for disability pension. An 11year follow-up of young persons on sick leave due to neck, shoulder, or back diagnoses. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2001;29(2):104-112. 11. Kjellman G, Hensing G, Öberg B, Alexanderson K. The course of neck, shoulder, or low back pain. A retrospektive 12 year follow up. Physiotherapy Research International, 2001;6:61-73. 12. Ringsberg K, Alexanderson K, Hensing G, Borg K. The health line - a method for collecting data on self-rated health over time pilot study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2001;29(3):233-239. 13. Östlund G, Alexanderson K, Cedersund E, Hensing G. It was really nice to have someone : Lay persons with musculoskeletal disorders requested supportive relationships in rehabilitation. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2001;4:285-291. 14. Sydsjö A, Sydsjö G, Alexanderson K. Influence of pregnancy-related diagnoses on sickleave data in women aged 16-44. Journal of Women s Health & Gender-Based Medicine. 2001;10(7);707-714. 15. Östlund G, Alexanderson K, Cedersund E, Hensing G. Developing a typology of the duty to work as experienced by lay persons with musculoskeletal disorders. International Journal of Social Welfare. 2002: 11: 150-158 16. Sydsjö A, Alexanderson K, Datserri M, Sydsjö G. Gender differences in sick leave related to back pain diagnoses. Spine. 2003. 28(4); 385-389 17. Östlund G, Borg K, Wide P, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Clients perceptions of contacts within health care and social insurance offices. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2003;31:4;275-282. 18. Svensson T, Karlsson A, Alexanderson K, Nordqvist C. Shame-evoking encounters. Negative emotional aspects of sick-absentees' interactions with rehabilitation professionals. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2003;13:3:183-195. 19. Östlund G, Cedersund E, Borg K, Hensing G, Alexanderson A. Domestic strain a hindrance in rehabilitation? Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 2004; 18, 49-56. 20. Leijon M, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Sickness absence with musculoskeletal disorders in occupational groups: the role of gender segregation. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2004:32;94-101. 21. Klanghed U, Svensson T, Alexanderson K. Positive encounters with rehabilitation professionals reported by persons with experience of sickness absence. Work, 2004;22:247-254. 22. Borg K, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Risk factors for disability pension over eleven years in a cohort of young persons initially sick-listed with low back, neck, or shoulder diagnoses: an analysis using the Cox-regression model with time-dependent covariates. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2004:32;272-278.
Page: 4 / 6 23. Borg K, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Prediction of future low levels of sickness absence among young persons sick listed with back diagnoses. Work, 23; 2; 2004; p 159-167. 24. Alexanderson K, Hensing G, Borg K. Sickness absence with low-back, shoulder or neck diagnoses - an 11-year follow-up regarding sickness absence and disability pension. Work. 2005:25;115-124. 25. Karlsson N, Borg K, Carstensen J, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Risk of disability pension in relation to sex and age in a Swedish county 1985-1996; a 12-year prospective cohort study. Work 2006;27;173-179. 26. Kivimäki M, Ferrie J, Hagberg J, Head J, Westerlund H, Vahtera J, Alexanderson K. Diagnosis-specific sick leave as a risk marker for disability pension in a Swedish population. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2006;61:915-920. 27. Karlsson N, Carstensen J, Gjesdal S, Alexanderson K. Mortality in relation to disability pension: findings from a 12-year prospective population-based cohort study in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2007;35:432-441. 28. Gjesdal S, Mæland J G, Svedberg P, Hagberg, J, Alexanderson K. Role of diagnoses and socioeconomic status in mortality among disability pensioners in Norway--a population-based cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.2008; 34:6, 479-482. 29. Gjesdal S, Svedberg P, Hagberg, J, Alexanderson K. Mortality among disability pensioners in Norway and Sweden 1990-96: comparative prospective cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2009;37: 168-175. PhD Thesis Based on this project 1. Alexanderson K. Sickness absence in a Swedish County, with reference to gender, occupation, pregnancy and parenthood. Doctoral dissertation. Department of Community Medicine, Linköping universitet, 1995. 2. Östlund G. Promoting return to work [PhD]. Linköping: Faculty of Health Sciences; 2002. 3. Borg K. Sickness absence with muskuloskeletal diagnosis - an eleven-year follow-up of young persons [Doctorial thesis]. Linköping: Linköping universitet; 2003. 4. Karlsson, N. Prospective Cohort Studies if Disability Pension and Mortality in a Swedish County. Karolinska Institutet, 2007. Thesis partly based on data from this project 1. Hensing G. Sickness absence and psychiatric disorder - epidemiological findings and methodological considerations [PhD-thesis]. Linköping: Linköping University; 1997. 2. Leijon M. Integrating perspectives in Social Medicine - a study using
Page: 5 / 6 epidemiological and clinical methods with special reference to sickness absence [PhD]. Linköping: Linköpings universitet; 2002. 3. Kjellman G. Neck Pain: Analysis of Prognostic Factors and Treatment Effects 2001. 4. Ulrika Müssener. Positive encounters [PhD]. Linköping: Faculty of Health Sciences; 2007. Peer-reviewed publications in Swedish 1. Hensing G. Epidemiologisk forskning om psykiatrisk sjukfrånvaro och om sjukfrånvaro bland psykiskt sjuka. Socialmedicinskt tidskrift. 2000;77(6). 2. Bjurulf P. Sjukskrivningsbilden i Östergötland. Socialmedicinsk tidskrift. 1984(2):114117 3. Alexanderson K. Genusskillnader i sjukskrivning i Östergötland under en period av stark ökning av sjukfrånvaro. Socialmedicinsk tidskrift nr 2-3 1997. Book chapters 1. Alexanderson K, Hensing, G Leijon, M, Åkerlind I, Rydh H, Carstensen J, Bjurulf P. Pregnancy-Related Sickness Absence in a Swedish County, 1985-87. Eds: Mishell D, Kirschbaum T, Herbst A. The Year Book of Obstretics and Gynecology, Mosby, USA, 1996; 61-63. 2. Alexanderson K, Östlin P. Work and Ill-health among Women and Men in Sweden. In Marklund S. Worklife and health in Sweden 2000. Arbetslivsinstitutet, 2001, sid. 119-134. 3. Hensing G, Alexanderson K, Bjurulf, P. Om nyttan av att vara sjuk. Existentiella perspektiv på hälsa och sjukdom. Forskningsrådsnämnden. Rapport 95:10. Stockholm 1995. 4. Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Jämn könsfördelning; bra för hälsan? Om sjukfrånvaro i kvinno- och mansdominerade yrken. Red. Bladh C, Cedersund E, Hagberg JE. Kvinnor och män som aktörer och klienter. Nerenius & Santérus förlag, Stockholm 1997. 5. Hensing G, Alexanderson K, Allebeck P, Bjurulf P. Abstract selected for publication: Sick-leave due to psychiatric disorder - higher incidence among women and longer duration for men. Psychiatry Digest, vol 4, August 1997. 6. Alexanderson K, Östlin P. Kvinnor och mäns arbete och hälsa. In: Marklund S. Arbetsliv och hälsa 2000. Stockholm. Arbetslivsinstitutet. Sid. 153-172. 7. Alexanderson K. Den könssegregerade arbetsmarknaden - samband med hälsa och sjukdom. Kapitel i kunskapsöversikt, red Gonäs L, Lindgren g, Bildt C. Könssegregering i arbetslivet. Solna. Arbetslivsinstitutet. 2001 (150-170). 8. Alexanderson K. Den könssegregerade arbetsmarknaden - samband med sjukdom. Positiva effekter av könsintegration, negativa av könssegregering? In Den könsuppdelade arbetsmarknaden. Betänkande av utredningen om den könsuppdelade arbetsmarknaden. Statens offentliga utredningar: SOU 2004:43; sid 421-423. 9. Alexanderson K. Sjukfrånvaro. In: Hovelius B, Johansson E. Kropp och genus
Page: 6 / 6 i medicinen. Lund. Studentlitteratur 2004. 239-248. Scientific reports (in Swedish) 1. Bjurulf P, Johansson G, Ljungdahl L, Persson H, Levin J-E, Åstrand G. Sjukskrivning i förhållande till diagnos och yrke 1985-87. Linköping: Inst för Samhällsmedicin; 1990. 2. Bjurulf P, Rydh H. Tidsseriestudie av sjukskrivning för rörelseorganens sjukdomar inom primärvårdsområdena i Östergötland - En rapport från Diagnosprojektet: Samhällsmed. institutionen, Socialmed. avd; 1991. 3. Bjurulf P. Rörelseorganens sjukdomar och deras samhällseffekter i olika yrkesgrupper i Östergötland. Arbetsvillkor, yrke och ohälsa i Östergötland. Linköping: Östergötlands läns landsting; 1996. 4. Bjurulf P. Belastningssjukdomar. Hälsomässigt utsatta yrkesgrupper i Östergötland: Östergötlands läns landsting; 1996. 5. Bjurulf P, Johansson G, Eriksen T. Sjukskrivningsdata som underlag för aktivt hälsoarbete. Behov och samverkan mellan Försäkringskassa och sjukvård. Tabellmaterial och överväganden: Socialmedicinska inst, Hälsouniversitetet Linköping, Försäkringskassan Östergötland, Riksförsäkringsverket Stockholm. 6. Lagerström-Östlund G, Alexanderson K, Cedersund E, Hensing G. Att leva med ryggbesvär: så länge men kan stå kan man jobba. Rapport inom ramen för projektet Sjukfrånvaro, hälsa och livsvillkor. Socialmedicinska avdelningen, Institutionen för Hälsa och Miljö, Linköpings universitet, 1998. 7. Alexanderson K, Hensing G, Borg K, Kjellman G, Nordqvist C, Ringsberg K, Wide P, Östlund G. Sjukfrånvaro, hälsa och Livsvillkor, en 12-årsuppföljning. Socialmedicin och Folkhälsovetenskap, IHM, Hälsouniversitetet, Linköping. 2000.