Abstract
Background
Working-aged colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have a much better survival nowadays, indicating the importance of their future work situation. We aimed to investigate trajectories of sickness absence and disability pension (SADP) days before and after CRC diagnosis and in references, and risk factors associated with different trajectories.
Methods
A longitudinal, population-based matched cohort study of 4735 CRC survivors in Sweden aged 19-62 when first diagnosed with CRC in 2008-2011, and 18,230 matched references was conducted, using microdata linked from several nationwide registers. The annual SADP net days for 2 years before through 5 years after diagnosis date were computed. A group-based trajectory model was used to depict SADP trajectories. Associations between trajectory membership, and sociodemographic and clinical variables were tested by chi2 test and multinomial logistic regression.
Results
Four trajectories of SADP days/year for CRC survivors were identified: “only increase around diagnosis” (52% of all, n = 2481), “slight increase after diagnosis” (27%), “high then decrease moderately after diagnosis” (13%), and “constantly very high” (8%). Educational level (R2=0.022), Charlson's Comorbidity Index (R2=0.029), and prediagnostic mental disorders (R2=0.066) were the strongest factors determining the SADP trajectory groups. In references, three trajectories (”constantly low” (80% of all), “constantly moderate and decrease gradually” (12%), and “very high then decrease overtime” (8%)) were identified.
Conclusions
Approximately 80% of CRC survivors return to a low level of SADP (0-60 days/year) at 5 years postdiagnosis. Prediagnostic status of mental disorders, somatic comorbidity, and low educational level are good indicators of future high SADP levels for CRC survivors.
Key messages
Most of working-age colorectal cancer survivors have low levels of sickness absence and disability pension days five years after their diagnosis. Trajectory analyses based on population-based register data can be used as a good approach in understanding future work situation regarding sick leave among working-age cancer survivors.
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