ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A1715 PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PROLONGED SICK LEAVE AFTER STROKE: A LONG-TERM REGISTRY-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN SWEDEN

Abstract Background and aims Stroke among working-age adults leads to long-term disabilities and imposing substantial societal and economic burdens. The aim was to examine trajectory, and factors associated with, sick leave among working-age stroke cases, from 1 year before to 3 years after the event, and to compare these patterns with matched controls. Methods This registry-based, retrospective longitudinal study utilized data from a local and national registry in Sweden. Individuals aged 18–65 years with a first-ever stroke who survived at least 30 days (2014–2019) were identified. Each case was matched with controls 1:4 from register Statistic Sweden. Statistical analyses included descriptive summaries, visualization of sick leave trajectories, and multivariable linear regression. Results A total of 1,502 cases with a first-ever stroke and 6,008 matched controls were included. The proportion of cases with stroke on sick leave was consistently higher throughout the entire follow-up period. Cases with stroke had approximately 2.5 times more pre-stroke sick leave than their matched controls and more often received sick leave compensation for cardiovascular, mental, and endocrine or metabolic disorders. Longer pre-stroke sick leave, intracerebral hemorrhage, impaired oral communication ability, dominant or both hands deficits, and increased fall risk were factors associated with prolonged post-stroke sick leave. Conclusions Working-age individuals with stroke had at least twofold higher need for sick leave compensation prior to their stroke, as well as a significantly more persistent sick leave burden after the event. These findings indicate that multiple aspects of underlying health vulnerabilities need to be taken into account during the post-stroke rehabilitation phase. Conflict of interest Hanna C Persson: nothing to disclose. Maryam Edalatfar: nothing to disclose. Malin Reinholdsson: nothing to disclose. Katharina S Sunnerhagen: nothing to disclose.