Increase in Respiratory Failure Days by 20% during Q1 in NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia)
DAK Health's Q1 Sick Leave Report for NRW
A Lowdown
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North Rhine-Westphalia's Q1 Sick Days Skyrocket Due to Respiratory Issues
- DAK Health's analysis of 380,000 employees' sick days from Jan-Mar 2025
- Sick leave rate inched up to 6.3% from 6.2% in 2024
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Respiratory illnesses ruled the roost: Bronchitis, colds, and other respiratory infections totaled an average of 159.2 sick days per 100 employees in Q1 - that's a whopping 21.1% more than in the same period last year. "NRW's sick leave rate remains high, and the positive trend from previous years hasn't yet solidified in Q1 2025," says Klaus Overdiek, head of DAK Health in NRW. "Given Germany's economic sluggishness, employees' sick leave is particularly critical," he adds.
More Sick Days thanks to Respiratory Woes
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Nearly 40% of men and 43% of women took a sick day due to respiratory problems in Q1. Mental health issues such as depression and musculoskeletal issues like back pain followed closely, but both saw slight decreases compared to the previous year's quarter.
NRW: Middle of the Pack Nationwide
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NRW's sick leave rate was at 6.3%, a slight increase from last year's 6.2%. This means 63 out of 1,000 employees missed work on average due to illness each day from January to March. "NRW sits comfortably in the upper middle range in the national comparison," says Overdiek. "Proactive corporate health management, which we already support many companies with," he says, emphasizing the importance of long-term employee health initiatives.
The Institute for Applied Health Economics and Research (IGES) in Berlin evaluated the data for this analysis. Find more on occupational health management and DAK Health's offerings for businesses and their employees here.
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Note: DAK Health introduced a new methodology for processing sickness absence data in July 2024, which may cause slight deviations when comparing Q1-2024 numbers to the old methodology.
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Insight: Respiratory problems have been associated with environmental pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, and methane [1], and certain regions in Germany, like North Rhine-Westphalia, have been flagged as having isolated risk areas for respiratory infections [2]. To get a clearer picture of sick leave trends associated with respiratory illnesses in this region, specific health records or employment data would be needed. A comparative study involving data from similar regions could offer valuable insights into how NRW fares compared to other areas.
- Science reveals that certain environmental pollutants like sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, and methane are associated with respiratory problems, which are causing higher sick leave rates in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Workplace wellness programs and health and wellness initiatives focusing on fitness and exercise, mental health, skin care, and therapies and treatments could potentially mitigate the impact of respiratory issues on employee health and productivity in the region.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and immunity, and promoting a balanced diet could help employees better cope with respiratory infections and reduce their impact on sick leave rates.
- Given the increasing trend of respiratory issues leading to higher sick leave rates, it is essential to invest in long-term employee health strategies that address both physical and mental health concerns, and promote proactive corporate health management.
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