Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2007 Mar;19(1):38-46.

Analysis of Worker's Compensation Claims for the Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Diseases

• Ryoo JH
• Ha EH
• Kim SG
• Kim JY
• Kim YK
• Lee EC
• Yi CH
• Son JS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was performed to provide fundamental data to judge whether or not cerebro and cardiovascular diseases are work-related, by comparing the characteristics between approved and non-approved cases among the worker's compensation claims.
METHODS
We collected 12,309 cerebro and cardiovascular disease claims based on the worker's compensation records of the Labor Welfare Corporation from 2000 to 2004. The approved and non-approved cases were analyzed according to factors such as the calendar year, industry, company size, occupation, gender, age group, classification of cerebro and cardiovascular diseases, fatality and underlying diseases. We used x2-test and multivariate logistic regression for the analysis.
RESULTS
According to multivariate logistic regression, electricity gas and water supply (OR=4.18, 95% CI=1.43~12.17), construction (OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.22~4.69) and manufacturing (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.08~4.07) industries had a higher approval rate than mining and quarrying industries. Service workers and sales & marketing department workers (OR=1.90, 95% CI=1.47~2.47), professionals (OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.50~2.23), technicians and associate professionals (OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.35~1.97) and legislators and senior officials and managers (OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.24~2.12) had a higher approval rate than plant and machine operators and assemblers. Female workers had a higher approval rate (OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.13~1.53) than male workers. Cerebrovascular diseases had a higher approval rate (OR=2.75, 95% CI=2.42~3.13) than cardiovascular diseases. Fatal cases had a higher approval rate (OR=6.01, 95% CI=4.89~7.38) than surviving cases.
CONCLUSION
For cerebro and cardiovascular diseases, workers' compensation claims are increasing, approval rates are relatively high and factors such as industry, company size, occupation, gender and fatality are related. A remarkable difference in the approval rate was found according to industry and occupation, suggesting the need for further study to identify which factors influence the approval rate. The approval rate for intracerebral hemorrhage arising in the course of employment (COE) was significantly higher than that arising out of employment (AOE), suggesting the need to correct the approval criteria.

Keyword

Worker's compensation; Cerebrovascular disease; Cardiovascular disease

MeSH Terms

Cardiovascular Diseases*
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Classification
Commerce
Electricity
Employment
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Marketing
Mining
Occupations
Plants
Water Supply
Workers' Compensation*