Is Obesity Associated With Adverse Workers’ Compensation Claims Outcomes?: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND:Obesity is associated with an increased risk for many chronic illnesses and disability. OBJECTIVE:To assess the relationship between obesity and delayed return to work and workersʼ compensation claim costs for both minor and significant injuries. METHOD:There were 1107 workers who filed a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2015-07, Vol.57 (7), p.795-800
Main Authors: Tao, Xuguang (Grant), Lavin, Robert A., Yuspeh, Larry, Bernacki, Edward J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Occupational - economics
Accidents, Occupational - statistics & numerical data
Adult
Chronic illnesses
Compensation
Female
Humans
Louisiana - epidemiology
Male
Obesity
Obesity - complications
Occupational accidents
Original Article
Pilot Projects
Risk assessment
Risk Factors
Workers' Compensation - economics
Workers' Compensation - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:BACKGROUND:Obesity is associated with an increased risk for many chronic illnesses and disability. OBJECTIVE:To assess the relationship between obesity and delayed return to work and workersʼ compensation claim costs for both minor and significant injuries. METHOD:There were 1107 workers who filed a workersʼ compensation claim with the Louisiana Workersʼ Compensation Corporation in 2011 that were followed up to the end of the first quarter of 2014. RESULT:Adjusting for sex, age, marital status, and attorney involvement, the odds ratio of an obese versus normal weight claimant returning to work after a severe injury was 3.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 10.14) and claim expenses $100,000 or more, 3.19 (95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 8.62). CONCLUSIONS:Obesity was associated with increased time lost from work and costs among workersʼ compensation claimants sustaining severe, but not minor injuries.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000465