JOEM: Effect of COVID-19 Infection 1 on Presenteeism: Cohort Study Using Large Health Insurance-Based Data in Japan (August 2024)-Effect of COVID-19 Infection 1 on Presenteeism: Cohort Study Using Large Health Insurance-Based Data in Japan

Effect of COVID-19 Infection 1 on Presenteeism: Cohort Study Using Large Health Insurance-Based Data in Japan

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The study by Miyaji et al. investigated the impact of COVID-19 infection on presenteeism, where employees continue to work despite being unwell. Using a large health insurance-based database in Japan, the study found that individuals infected with COVID-19 experienced worsened presenteeism compared to those without infection. The research analyzed data from 9241 participants who responded to questionnaires at two time points and had been insured and employed continuously. Propensity score matching was used to compare outcomes between the COVID-19 infected and non-infected groups. The findings indicated that individuals with COVID-19 had a higher likelihood of worsening presenteeism, suggesting a negative effect of COVID-19 infection on work performance.<br /><br />The study highlighted the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on public health globally, with ongoing high infection rates impacting societal well-being. Long-term effects of COVID-19, including long COVID, have been noted to contribute to work-related performance issues. Presenteeism, where employees work while unwell, is a significant concern in occupational health, associated with increased costs and reduced productivity. Previous studies have shown that presenteeism is prevalent in various occupations and can hinder recovery, impacting future health and work capacity.<br /><br />The study's limitations included potential selection bias due to survey response rates, limitations in data scope, and possible misclassification of COVID-19 cases based on insurance claims data. Despite these limitations, the findings contribute to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on presenteeism and emphasize the need for further research to identify vulnerable populations affected by worsening presenteeism post-COVID-19 infection.

Keywords

COVID-19 infection

presenteeism

work performance

health insurance-based database

propensity score matching

long COVID

occupational health

survey response rates

vulnerable populations

work-related performance issues