Background: Two major definitions exist for presenteeism: sickness presenteeism and impaired work function. The evidence for comparing previous studies on presenteeism is insufficient because of the different definitions of presenteeism used. Aims: To assess the relationship between the two major definitions of presenteeism. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed secondary data on 5334 respondents to an employee survey administered in a construction company in Japan. Impaired work function was measured using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale (WFun). Multiple logistic regression was performed. Results: A strong linear association was observed between the number of days of sickness presenteeism and impaired work function (all P < 0.001). In contrast, the number of days of sickness absence was only partially positively associated with impaired work function. All choices for most frequent health problem were positively associated with impaired work function, beginning with mental problems (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 20.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.94–28.01), followed by malaise (adjusted OR = 11.91, 95% CI: 9.08–15.62) and sleeping problems (adjusted OR = 8.62, 95% CI: 6.57–11.33). Conclusions: A strong relationship was observed between the two major definitions of presenteeism, even after adjusting for a variety of chronic health conditions. Although a consensus on the definition of presenteeism is yet to be reached, this study provides insight on comparing existing studies on presenteeism.

Background: We set out to investigate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the CDC core healthy day measures assessing health-related quality of life (CDC HRQOL-4) in Japanese workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1360 Japanese workers of one Japanese company located in Kyushu. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to evaluate the internal consistency of CDC HRQOL-4 items. The concurrent validity was tested by assessing whether the CDC HRQOL-4 items correlated well with the corresponding domains of the SF-8 and the overall WFun score. The construct validity was tested by assessing the ability of the CDC HRQOL-4 to discriminate groups with and without any current disease, pain, mental problem, and sleeping disorder. Results: Cronbach’s alpha for three of the four CDC HRQOL-4 items was 0.80, which is greater than the minimal standard (0.70) recommended for internal consistency reliability. Correlation coefficients ranging from 0.25 to 0.67 were obtained between CDC HRQOL-4 items and the SF-8 domains and WFun score. Workers with any current disease, mental problem, pain or sleeping disorder reported higher numbers of unhealthy days, and a higher odd of poor health than those without such problems. Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL-4 shows a good concurrent validity with the SF-8 and the WFun tool and good construct validity among Japanese workers in the current study. Conclusions: Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL-4 is a reliable and valid instrument that may be used to assess overall health and physically and mentally unhealthy days in Japanese workers.

The characteristics of elderly hip fracture patients in acute care hospitals were analyzed based on hospitalization and discharge route and the presence or absence of a dementia diagnosis. The stud...

Objectives The current research aimed to study the relationship between health‐related quality of life (poor perceived health/unhealthy days) and workers' pain. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 1360 Japanese workers of a Japanese company in Kyushu. Health‐related quality of life was measured by HRQOL‐4 tool developed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the USA. Pain was assessed by numeric rating scale with 0‐10 points. Regression analysis was conducted to identify the relationship between health‐related quality of life and pain. Results Participants who reported pain had significantly greater odds of having poor health compared to those with no pain (AOR = 3.99, 95% CI = 3.82‐4.18, P < .0001). In general, participants who had a higher frequency and intensity of pain had significantly greater odds of having poor health compared to those with no pain. Compared to those with no pain, participants with pain had an average of 2.85 (95% CI = 2.07‐3.63, P < .0001), 2.25 (95% CI = 1.52‐2.99, P < .0001), 4.41 (95% CI = 3.39‐5, P < .0001), and 1.9 (95% CI = 1.30‐2.50, P < .0001) more physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, total unhealthy days, and days with activity limitation, respectively. Headache causes many more unhealthy days and more poor health than any other pain, including back pain, shoulder/neck pain, and joint pain. Conclusion Poor health status and the number of unhealthy days among Japanese workers are strongly associated with the presence of pain and increases with the intensity and frequency of pain.

Background: Customarily, bedrooms in Japan are left unheated. Although several studies have reported that the use of a heating system has positive outcomes on respiratory infection and asthma, the preventive effect of heating systems against infectious diseases in children is not well known.Methods: We conducted a cohort study using two questionnaire surveys, one before the winter season in November, 2018 and the second after winter in March, 2019.Participants were 155 children who did not use a heating system in the bedroom and 156 children who did.Results: Having a heated bedroom with a heating system was associated with decreased odds for the frequency of cold (≥3 times) (adjust odds ratio (AOR): 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-0.65), duration of fever (≥3 days) (AOR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22- 0.66), duration of medicine for a cold (≥3 days) (AOR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87-0.95), hospital visit due to cold (≥3 days) (AOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31-0.94), absence from school or nursery (≥3 days) (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.27-0.70), influenza infection (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26-0.71) and gastroenteritis (AOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21-0.72). Influenza vaccination reduced the odds of influenza infection (AOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.22-0.59) and absence from school or nursery (≥3days<=) (AOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-0.99).Conclusion: This study implies that the heating of bedrooms may have a preventive effect against infections among children. Broader dissemination of this knowledge in Japan will require cultural change through public health awareness.