Depression symptoms and risk of sick leave: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Depression symptoms are one of the most common psychiatric disorders and affect all aspects of life. The impact of depression symptoms on sick leave in the working population is a major issue that requires a more comprehensive examination.

Methods: This systematic review used the PRISMA method to identify eligible studies (n = 15). Subsequently, the association between depression symptoms and sick leave was examined and several important subgroup analyses were performed.

Results: Depression symptoms were associated with sick leave, with an overall risk ratio (RR) of 1.52 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.34-1.73]. In men, the result displayed RR 2.19 (95% CI 1.17-4.09) and in women, the result showed RR 1.54 (95% CI 1.35-1.76). Additional subgroup analyses that account for methodological differences across studies based on the method of assessing depression symptoms and sick leave showed that this association was consistent.

Conclusion: Depression symptoms are associated with sick leave. Given that sick leave can have an economic and social burden, more attention to depression symptoms is necessary.

Keywords: Depression symptoms; Meta-analysis; Sick leave; Systematic review.