Reoccurring Injury, Chronic Health Conditions, and Behavioral Health: Gender Differences in the Causes of Workers' Compensation Claims

J Occup Environ Med. 2018 Aug;60(8):710-716. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001301.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was o examine how work and nonwork health-related factors contribute to workers' compensation (WC) claims by gender.

Methods: Workers (N = 16,926) were enrolled in the Pinnacol Assurance Health Risk Management study, a multiyear, longitudinal research program assessing small and medium-sized enterprises in Colorado. Hypotheses were tested using gender-stratified logistic regression models.

Results: For both women and men, having incurred a prior WC claim increased the odds of a future claim. The combination of incurring a prior claim and having metabolic health conditions resulted in lower odds of a future claim. Behavioral health risk factors increased the odds of having a claim more so among women than among men.

Conclusion: This study provides data to support multifactorial injury theories, and the need for injury prevention efforts that consider workplace conditions as well as worker health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arthritis / epidemiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Colorado / epidemiology
  • Digestive System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Headache Disorders / epidemiology
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Surveys
  • Heart Diseases / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Metabolic Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Musculoskeletal Pain / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Occupational Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Recurrence
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Sex Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Urologic Diseases / epidemiology
  • Workers' Compensation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult