Acute, subacute and chronic XXXX : clinical symptoms, absenteeism and working environment.

@entity1 @entity1643 @entity146 @entity988 @entity5539 @entity158 @entity1118
In this study the relationship between @entity1643 and the following factors was studied: Clinical findings, frequency and duration of absenteeism, social situation, @entity5539 . The sample studied included 220 @entity1 (participation frequency 86%) between the ages of 16-65 who had either acutely declared themselves unable to work because of @entity1643 (acute @entity1 , n = 50) or who had been ill because of @entity1643 for one month (subacute @entity1 , n = 50) or for three months (chronic @entity1 , n = 70). A control group (n = 50) consisting of @entity1 who had not been absent at all from work the last year was also included. Information regarding the @entity1 ' socio-economic situation, previous and present illnesses, further sick-listing during the one year follow-up period and the duration of absenteeism was obtained from the records of the Department of Health Insurance. The median age for @entity1 (68%) in the four different groups was 46, 46, 46 and 48.5, respectively. The corresponding figures for @entity1 were 50, 33, 33 and 49 years. Twenty percent were of foreign extraction. The proportion of foreigners in the group of non- @entity1 (n=33) was higher (39%) and in this group there was a significantly greater frequency of previous episodes of ill health of short duration (less than or equal to 7 days + no certificate of ill health). Despite a careful clinical examination it was not possible to find any objective signs amongst 51% (86) of the @entity1 . These @entity1 exhibited normal motion of the back, normal musculature, no signs of neurologic involvement, negative straight-leg-raising test, no fixed @entity158 position and no @entity158 during percussion or palpation despite the fact they had subjective symptoms. The proportion of @entity1 without objective findings increased with increased duration of absenteeism. Forty percent of the acute back @entity1 displayed no objective findings. The corresponding figures for the subacute and chronic back @entity1 groups were 34% and 70%, respectively. In the group without objective findings but with @entity1118 (greater than 3 months) there was an increased frequency of Waddell's non-organic signs compared with the group with objective findings. Psychological and social problems increased with increasing duration of absenteeism. There were significantly more @entity1 with @entity146 , signs of @entity988 and early retirement in the three months group compared to the remaining groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
