Analysis of respiratory diseases: Highest sick leave rate among young people
14.12.2021 10:48
An increasing number of young professionals are being signed off work due to acute respiratory illnesses. This is according to an analysis of data from Barmer health insurance members. The analysis revealed that in the third week of November (November 14th to 20th), approximately 51 out of every 1,000 people under the age of 20 were unable to work due to a respiratory illness. This figure is twice as high as the rate among 20- to 29-year-olds, which was around 25 out of every 1,000 employees. Older employees were also significantly less likely to be signed off work due to this diagnosis.
„The flu and cold season was very mild last winter. This is because the distancing and hygiene rules implemented to protect against COVID-19 reduced the overall risk of infection. The fact that the youngest group of employees is so much more affected may also be related to their lifestyle,“ explains Dr. Ursula Marschall, Chief Medical Officer at Barmer. In this age group, contact with peers is part of everyday life and an important aspect of social interaction. However, during a pandemic, a high frequency of contact with larger groups also leads to a higher rate of disease activity.
According to the BarmerAnalysis reveals not only age differences but also significant regional variations in the incidence of respiratory infections. In the third week of November, people in Saxony (35.5 per 1,000 insured individuals), Thuringia (32.1), and Saxony-Anhalt (27.9) were particularly likely to be on sick leave due to respiratory illness. In contrast, the rate of affected individuals in Bremen during the same period was 14.8 per 1,000 insured individuals, less than half the rate. "We cannot explain these significant regional differences in the incidence of respiratory illnesses solely from a medical perspective. Various influencing factors must be considered. However, strict adherence to the basic hygiene rules (AHA rules) is more important than ever, especially given the massive increase in new COVID-19 infections," said Marschall.