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Background: Sick-leave is an important source of productivity losses to society. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) status in young adulthood and future sick-leave. Methods: A nation-wide cohort of 43 989 Swedish men (18.7 ± 0.5 years) performing military conscription tests in 1969–70 were followed between 1986 and 2005 regarding sick-leave. BMI was used to define underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5–24.9), overweight (25.0–29.9) and obesity (&geq;30.0). Relative risks of sick-leave were estimated with Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for smoking, socio-economic index and muscular strength, using normal weight as the reference. Results: During 803 684 person-years of follow-up, 488 570 sick-leave episodes were recorded. On average, one short-term (&leq;7 days) episode occurred every eight person-months, one intermediate-term (8–30 days) every five person-years and one long-term (>30 days) episode every 15 person-years. Overweight was associated with 20% and obesity with >30% risk elevation for episodes ranging from 8 to 30 days [hazard ratio (HR) 1.20; 95% CI 1.15–1.24 and HR 1.35; 95% CI 1.24–1.47, respectively] as well as for episodes >30 days (HR 1.19; 95% CI 1.15–1.23 and HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.24–1.47, respectively) compared to normal weight. Obesity was also associated with an increased risk of sick-leave episodes &leq;7 days (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.09–1.16), but the corresponding risk increase for overweight was very small (HR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.03). Underweight showed increased risk only for short-term episodes (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.04–1.07). Discussion: Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for sick-leave compared to normal weight, especially for sick-leave episodes of longer duration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose.To investigate if testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) have a higher incidence of work loss compared with the population, accounting for stage, treatment and relapse. Material and methods.A cohort of 2146 Swedish TCSs diagnosed 1995–2007 (seminoma n = 926, non-seminoma n = 1220) was identified in the SWENOTECA (Swedish-Norwegian Testicular Cancer Group) register, and matched 1:4 to population comparators. Prospectively recorded work loss data (both before and after diagnosis) were obtained from national registers through September 2013. Adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of sick leave and/or disability pension were calculated annually and overall with Poisson- and Cox regression, censoring at relapse. The mean number of annual work days lost was also estimated. Results.TCSs were at a modestly increased annual risk of work loss up to the third year of follow-up (RR3rd year1.25, 95% CI 1.08, 1.43), attributed to a more pronounced risk among extensively treated patients (4 chemotherapy courses: RR3rd year1.60, 95% CI 1.19, 2.15; > 4 courses: RR3rd year3.70, 95% CI 2.25, 6.11). Patients on surveillance or limited treatment (radiotherapy, 1–3 chemotherapy courses) did not have an increased risk of work loss beyond the first year. TCSs receiving > 4 chemotherapy courses had higher mean number of annual days of work loss up to the 10th year post-diagnosis, and a five-fold risk of disability pension (RR 5.16, 95% CI 2.00, 10.3). Conclusion.Extensively treated TCSs, but not those on surveillance or limited treatment, are at increased risk of work loss long-term, not explained by relapse. These patients may benefit from early rehabilitation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]