Characteristics of Claimants on Long-Term Disability Benefits a Year After Report of an Occupational Injury

Objective: To describe characteristics of claimants a year after report of an occupational injury associated with long-term disability benefits for income. Method: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses on self-reported data and register data. Primary outcome: long-term disability benefits. Results: Respondent claimants on benefits had a work ability of 2.72 (scale 1 to 10-low to high) with slight increase from baseline. The multivariate analysis showed low work ability was the only characteristic associated with benefits. In the analysis of aggravation a year after injury claim benefits were only associated with severity of injury at report, increased daily medication, and aggravated relationships with friends. Conclusions: Low work ability a year after report was the only characteristic of all claimants on benefits. In the present context perceived work ability perhaps reflects both severity of injury and other health or social factors.