Asthma is associated with increased sickness absence among young adults

Background There is limited knowledge about how asthma affects sickness absence in young adulthood. Objective To examine how asthma and different asthma phenotypes affect sickness absence among young adults and potential modifying factors. A secondary aim was to estimate productivity losses related to sickness absence for asthma. Methods The study included 2,391 participants from the Swedish population-based cohort BAMSE. Information on asthma, asthma phenotypes, and lifestyle factors were collected from questionnaires and clinical examinations at ∼24 years of age (2016–2019). Information on sickness absence >14 days was obtained from a national register for the years 2020–2021. Associations between asthma, asthma phenotypes, and sickness absence were analyzed with logistic regression models adjusted for sex, birth year, education, and overweight status. Results At age 24 years, n=272 (11.4%) fulfilled the definition of asthma. Sickness absence was more common among those with asthma than those without (15.1% vs 8.7%, p=0.001, adjusted odds ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.19–2.51). Analyses of asthma phenotypes showed that the association tended to be stronger for persistent asthma, uncontrolled asthma, and asthma in combination with rhinitis; no consistent differences were observed across phenotypes related to allergic sensitization or inflammation. The association tended to be stronger among those with overweight than those with normal weight. Asthma, especially uncontrolled asthma was associated with higher productivity losses from sickness absence. Conclusion Asthma may be associated with higher sickness absence and productivity losses. Achieving better asthma control and reducing allergic symptoms may reduce sickness absence among individuals with asthma.