English version - Fit for Work Europe

2. Introduction
10
2.1
The global
burden of
MSDs
2.2
Evaluating the
economic and
social impact
of MSDs
At least one billion people in the world live with some form of disability; for 200 million of them
the long-term health conditions significantly affect their ability to perform activities of daily life
(World Health Organisation (WHO), 2011). Population ageing, as well as the increase in chronic
health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental health disorders
contribute to the growing prevalence of disability.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as low back pain, arthritis and other diseases of the
joints are among the leading causes of disability (WHO, 2011). MSDs account for more than
10 per cent of all years lost to disability globally (WHO, 2009). The conditions of this group,
although not leading directly to mortality, impact the individuals’ ability to live independently and
continue productive working lives.
The impact of MSDs on individuals and their ability to work varies significantly from person to
person. Work disability is usually estimated in relation to cessation of employment, reduced
working hours or claiming of disability benefits. These estimates rarely take into consideration
lost productivity whilst at work. The effects of pain from MSDs can impact on many aspects of
one’s performance at work, such as stamina and resilience, cognitive capacity or concentration,
rationality/mood, fatigue, mobility and agility.
Reduced productivity of workers with MSDs and their premature withdrawal from the labour
market have negative spillover effects on the economy and society. The variety of physical and
psychological symptoms of MSDs and comorbidities means that the actual burden of MSDs on
individuals, employers and the society may be significantly underestimated. Yet, work is still not
considered to be a valued clinical outcome in treating individuals with MSDs.
Calculating the exact costs of MSDs is not straightforward (Lundkvist, Kastäng and Kobelt,
2008). Several factors need to be considered, and obtaining accurate, reliable and consistent
figures is almost impossible.
To calculate the cost of MSDs (or any illness) the following factors must be estimated:
• Direct costs including medical expenditure, such as the cost of prevention, detection,
treatment, rehabilitation, long-term care and ongoing medical and private expenditure.
They are often further separated into medical costs occurring in the health care sector
and non-medical costs occurring in other sectors (Lundkvist, Kastäng and Kobelt,
2008);
Fit For Work? Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Japanese Labour Market