Gender-stratified weighted HRs and 95% CIs for the risk of long-term sickness absence during follow-up from moderate, high and very high physical work demands (reference: low) in workers age 20, 40 and 60 years, including only unskilled and skilled workers
| Age | Physical work demands | Men | Women |
| HR (95% CI) | HR (95% CI) | ||
| 20 years | Low | 1 | 1 |
| Moderate | 0.86 (0.42 to 1.80) | 1.37 (0.86 to 2.20) | |
| High | 0.62 (0.31 to 1.24) | 1.19 (0.74 to 1.93) | |
| Very high | 1.00 (0.55 to 1.82) | 1.14 (0.77 to 1.69) | |
| 40 years | Low | 1 | 1 |
| Moderate | 1.06 (0.79 to 1.44) | 1.35 (1.11 to 1.65) | |
| High | 1.12 (0.84 to 1.51) | 1.43 (1.16 to 1.74) | |
| Very high | 1.55 (1.21 to 2.00) | 1.53 (1.29 to 1.82) | |
| 60 years | Low | 1 | 1 |
| Moderate | 1.31 (0.94 to 1.82) | 1.33 (1.03 to 1.71) | |
| High | 2.04 (1.48 to 2.82) | 1.70 (1.32 to 2.20) | |
| Very high | 2.41 (1.79 to 3.26) | 2.07 (1.65 to 2.59) |
Adjusted for age, gender, education, year of questionnaire reply, lifestyle (BMI, smoking, leisure physical activity), psychosocial work factors (work-life balance and influence at work) and depressive symptoms (MDI).
BMI, body mass index; MDI, Major Depression Inventory.