Association between the presence of respiratory symptoms and reduced work productivity (presenteeism) among Japanese workers: the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Study

<bold>Objective:</bold> This study was intended to reveal the association between respiratory symptoms and reduced work productivity (presenteeism) among Japanese workers. <bold>Methods:</bold> This cross-sectional study included 3,038 workers aged 19―83 who underwent a lung function test and questionnaire, including for respiratory symptoms, during a health checkup at the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Health Care Center. Of these workers, 332 (10.9%) reported having respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sputum, or dyspnea. The workers completed a questionnaire on productivity loss at work. Work productivity reduction was assessed using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale (WFun). The Wfun consists of seven questions, each of them scored from 1 to 5, for a total score of 7―35. A higher score indicated a higher degree of disability. The outcome productivity loss at work was classified into two categories: no productivity loss (score of 20 or lower) and productivity loss at work (score of 21 or higher). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the presence of respiratory symptoms and work productivity reduction. <bold>Results:</bold> Compared with workers without respiratory symptoms, workers with respiratory symptoms showed a significant productivity loss (odds ratio [OR]=1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23―2.25, p=<0.001) after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, depression, allergic rhinitis, sleep duration, work hours per day, and physical activity. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Work productivity reduction was significantly higher among workers with respiratory symptoms.