REVIEW

Smoking and absence from work: systematic review and meta-analysis of occupational studies

  1. Stephen F. Weng1,*,
  2. Shehzad Ali2,
  3. Jo Leonardi-Bee1

Article first published online: 19 NOV 2012

DOI: 10.1111/add.12015

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 108, Issue 2, pages 307–319, February 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Weng, S. F., Ali, S. and Leonardi-Bee, J. (2013), Smoking and absence from work: systematic review and meta-analysis of occupational studies. Addiction, 108: 307–319. doi: 10.1111/add.12015

Author Information

  1. 1

    UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

  2. 2

    Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK

*Correspondence to: Stephen F. Weng, UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK. E-mail: mcxsw@nottingham.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 JAN 2013
  2. Article first published online: 19 NOV 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 18 OCT 2012 06:46AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 12 OCT 2012
  5. Manuscript Revised: 14 AUG 2012
  6. Manuscript Received: 4 MAY 2012

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Keywords:

  • Absenteeism;
  • meta-analysis;
  • productivity loss;
  • smoking;
  • systematic review;
  • work-place

Abstract

Aims

This study aimed to assess the association between smoking and absenteeism in working adults.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by electronic database searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CAB Abstracts, PubMed, Science Direct and National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (February 2012). Longitudinal, prospective cohorts or retrospective cohorts were included in the review. Summary effect estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2 and publication bias was investigated.

Results

A total of 29 longitudinal or cohort studies were included. Compared with non-smokers, current smokers had a 33% increase in risk of absenteeism [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25–1.41; I2 = 62.7%; 17 studies]. Current smokers were absent for an average of 2.74 more days per year compared with non-smokers (95% CI: 1.54–3.95; I2 = 89.6%; 13 studies). Compared with never smokers, ex-smokers had a 14% increase in risk of absenteeism (95% CI: 1.08–1.21; I2 = 62.4%; eight studies); however, no increase in duration of absence could be detected. Current smokers also had a 19% increase in risk of absenteeism compared with ex-smokers (95% CI: 1.09–1.32, P < 0.01, eight studies). There was no evidence of publication bias. The total cost of absenteeism due to smoking in the United Kingdom was estimated to be £1.4 billion in 2011.

Conclusions

Quitting smoking appears to reduce absenteeism and result in substantial cost-savings for employers.

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