1. Sickness absence as an indicator of health?
John Selander
Mid-Sweden University

2. Background: Sweden has high rates of sickness absence. Why is it so?
Do Swedes have poor health?

3. Sickness absence in Sweden 1970-2005

4. Sickness absence among men and women, 1970-2005

5. Sweden compared to other European countries

6. Do Swedes have poor health?

7. Infant mortality Sweden Finland Norway France Germany Denmark
Netherlands GB
OECD Health Data 2005
Life expectancy
Sweden
France
Norway
Germany
the Netherlands
United Kingdom
Finland
Denmark
UN,Human Development Report Oxford

8. Healthy life expectancy Sweden France Norway Germany the Netherlands
Finland
United Kingdom
Denmark
WHO (2003), The world health report
Self-reported health
Denmark
the Netherlands
Sweden
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Finland
Health in theEuropean Union. Special Eurobarometer 272e (Norway missing)

9. Index of health and social problems Social exclusion
Sweden
Norway
the Netherlands
Finland
Denmark
Germany
United Kingdom
Wilkinson R and Pickett K. (2009) The Spirit Level.
Social exclusion
Norway
Sweden
the Netherlands
Denmark
Germany
Finland
United Kingdom
France
Second European Quality of Life Survey (2007)

10. Physical activity Work place safety Finland Sweden Sweden
Denmark
United Kingdom
France
the Netherlands
Germany
European Commision, The citizens of the European Union and Sport. Special. (Norway missing).
Work place safety
Sweden
United Kingdom
Denmark
Finland
the Netherlands
Norway
Germany
France
Work and health in the EU: A statistical portrait (2004).

11. Mental well-being Suicide Norway Germany the Netherlands Denmark
Sweden
Finland
France
United Kingdom
Second European Quality of Life Survey(2007)
Suicide
United Kingdom
The Netherlands
Germany
Denmark
Norway
Sweden
France
Finland
European Detailed Mortality Database, WHO 2009

12. Use of drugs Use of alcohol Sweden Sweden Finland the Netherlands
France
Germany
Norway
the Netherlands
Denmark
United Kingdom
US Census Bureau, Population Division, Interim State Population Projections, 2005
Use of alcohol
Sweden
the Netherlands
Finland
France
United Kingdom
Germany
Denmark
WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2008 (Norway missing)

13. WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2008. (Norway missing)
Calorie intake
Sweden
Finland
the Netherlands
United Kingdom
Norway
Germany
Denmark
France
OECD Health Database. Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and
Development. OECD health data 2007
Use of tobacco
Sweden
Finland
United Kingdom
Denmark
France
the Netherlands
Germany
WHO Regional Office for Europe, (Norway missing)

14. Obesity Sweden the Netherlands Norway France Denmark Germany Finland
United Kingdom
International Obesity Taskforce, Overweight and obese. 2002, International
Lung cancer incidence
Sweden
Finland
Denmark
United Kingdom
Germany
France
the Netherlands
Tyczynski JE et al (2002). Lung cancer in Europe. ENCR Cancer. (Norway missing)

15. Swedes (and Norwegians) seem to have good health!
Is perhaps sickness absence not a good indicator of health?
Should then, as often is the case, sickness absence be used as an outcome variable for different public health, DM and VR activities?

16. Thank you!

17. Sickness absence and unemployment in Sweden, 1970-2005