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The impact of fragility fractures on work and characteristics associated with time to return to work

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Abstract

Summary

We examined the impact of fragility fractures on the work outcomes of employed patients. The majority successfully returned to their previous jobs in a short amount of time, and productivity loss at work was low. Our findings underscore the fast recovery rates of working fragility fracture patients.

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of fragility fractures on the work outcomes of patients who were employed at the time of their fracture.

Methods

A self-report anonymous survey was mailed to fragility fracture patients over 50 who were screened as part of the quality assurance programs of fracture clinics across 35 hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Measures of return to work (RTW), at-work productivity loss (Work Limitations Questionnaire), and sociodemographic, fracture-related, and job characteristics were included in the survey. Kaplan-Meier estimates of the cumulative proportion of patients still off work were computed. Factors associated with RTW time following a fragility fracture were examined using Cox proportional hazards modeling.

Results

Of 275 participants, 242 (88 %) returned to work. Of these, the median RTW time was 20.5 days. About 86 % returned to the same job, duties, and hours as before their injury. Among full-time workers, the median number of lost hours due to presenteeism was 2.9 h (Q1–Q3 0.4–8.1 h). The median cost of presenteeism was $75.30 based on the month prior to survey completion. In multivariable analyses, female gender, needing surgery, and medium/heavy work requirements were associated with longer RTW time. Earlier RTW time was associated with elbow fracture and feeling completely better at time of survey completion.

Conclusions

The majority of fragility fracture patients successfully returned to their previous jobs in a short amount of time, and productivity loss at work was low. Our findings underscore their fast recovery rates and give reason for optimism regarding the resilience of this population.

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Acknowledgments

This study has been supported through funding by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care through the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Peter Smith for his contribution in helping with the occupational coding system and Rebeka Sujic, Hina Ansari, and John Cullen for providing helpful feedback.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Musculoskeletal Health and Outcomes Research, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, 30 Bond St., Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8, Canada

    N. K. Rotondi, D. E. Beaton, M. Ilieff, D. Linton & J. Sale

  2. Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    D. E. Beaton, C. Adhihetty & J. Sale

  3. Institute for Work & Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    D. E. Beaton & S. Hogg-Johnson

  4. Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    M. Ilieff

  5. Mobility Program, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    E. Bogoch

  6. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    E. Bogoch

  7. Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    S. Jaglal

  8. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    S. Jaglal

  9. Osteoporosis Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    R. Jain & J. Weldon

Authors
  1. N. K. Rotondi
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  2. D. E. Beaton
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  3. M. Ilieff
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  4. C. Adhihetty
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  5. D. Linton
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  6. E. Bogoch
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  7. J. Sale
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  8. S. Hogg-Johnson
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  9. S. Jaglal
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  11. J. Weldon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. K. Rotondi.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Rotondi, N.K., Beaton, D.E., Ilieff, M. et al. The impact of fragility fractures on work and characteristics associated with time to return to work. Osteoporos Int 28, 349–358 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-016-3730-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-016-3730-4

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