The association between physical activity, productivity, and health care utilization among employees in Brazil

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 52; no. 7; p. 706
• Main Authors: Fonseca, Vera Regina, Nobre, Moacyr Roberto Cuce, Pronk, Nicolaas P, Santos, Luciana Alves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2010
• Subjects: Absenteeism; Adult; Automobiles - statistics & numerical data; Brazil - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Efficiency; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Services - utilization; Humans; Industry - statistics & numerical data; Leisure Activities; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - mortality; Occupational Diseases - physiopathology; Brazil
• ISSN: 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181e41cda

To document the relationship between physical activity, absenteeism, presenteeism, health care utilization, and morbidity among Brazilian automotive workers. Eligible employees (N = 620) completed a questionnaire. Univariate correlations, multivariate logistic regression, and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient were used. Work absenteeism was associated with physical activity at work (OPA) (odds ratio, [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31 to 2.02) and leisure physical activity time excluding sport (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.58 to 1.00). Health care utilization was associated with OPA (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.58) and leisure physical activity time excluding sport (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.02). Presenteeism showed an indirect relationship with OPA (r = 0.099, P = 0.014). Referred morbidity was associated with OPA (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.61) and sports during leisure time (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54 to 0.82). Physical activity components seem to have differential relationships to the studied outcomes. Associations measured indicate negative impacts of OPA on absenteeism, health care utilization, and morbidity, although overall physical activity did not show these relationships.