Influence of oral health status on absenteeism and presenteeism as indices of work productivity loss

Background/Purpose: Work productivity reduction due to oral health problems has not been well investigated. This study aimed to examine the impact of oral health status, including periodontitis, dental caries, and oral health-related quality of life (QOL), on absenteeism and presenteeism. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 559 workers of a Japanese industrial company. Data on dental health and general health checkups were obtained from workers’ health records, and the workers responded to questionnaires on work productivity loss due to oral health problems, job stress, and oral health-related QOL. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for presenteeism and absenteeism were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses of oral health status and oral health-related QOL adjusting with sex, age, educational background, occupation, job stress, current smoking, and hypertension. Results: Of the 559 participants, 6.6% and 8.9% reported absenteeism and presenteeism, respectively, due to oral health problems. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified the number of decayed teeth (OR = 1.12, 95%CI = 1.02–1.24) as a significantly associated factor with presenteeism, and additionally low oral health-related QOL with both absenteeism (OR = 2.48, 95%CI = 1.20–5.11) and presenteeism (OR = 5.00, 95%CI = 2.46–10.19). Conclusion: The number of decayed teeth and low oral health-related QOL were significantly associated with presenteeism and/or absenteeism. This highlights oral health problem as a potential factor for productivity loss.