Table 1 Descriptive statistics of the population
| Â | Long-term Sickness Absence | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Variable | N | Mean (2.5-97.5 percentile) | Event (%) |
Baseline 2005 (n = 7401) |  |  |  |
Age | 7401 | 45.2 (24–60) |  |
Seniority (years working as health care worker)a | 7306 | 9.0 (1–28) |  |
Occupational type: | Â | Â | Â |
 Care helpers | 4595 |  | 824 (11.2) |
 Care assistants | 1304 |  | 198 (2.7) |
 Unskilled care helpers | 162 |  | 24 (0.3) |
 Registered nurses | 936 |  | 106 (1.4) |
 Therapists and activity workers | 404 |  | 46 (0.6) |
Physical activityb: | Â | Â | Â |
 Sedentary | 305 |  | 60 (19.7) |
 Light activity | 3028 |  | 518 (17.2) |
 Moderate activity | 3604 |  | 555 (15.4) |
 Hard activity | 341 |  | 40 (11.8) |
Smoking statusc: | Â | Â | Â |
 Never smoker | 2817 |  | 395 (14.1) |
 Ex-smoker | 1778 |  | 274 (15.5) |
 Current smoker | 2724 |  | 511 (18.8) |
BMI (kg/m2)d | 7066 | 24.9 (18.7 - 35.6) | Â |
BMI categoryd: | Â | Â | Â |
 Underweight (<18.5 kg/m2) | 140 |  | 21 (15.1) |
 Normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) | 4021 |  | 573 (14.3) |
 Overweight (25–29.9 kg/m2) | 2059 |  | 357 (17.4) |
 Obese (>30 kg/m2) | 846 |  | 184 (21.9) |
Previous long-term sickness absence: | Â | Â | Â |
 Yes | 1045 |  | 293 (28.1) |
 No | 6356 |  | 905 (14.3) |