health - DAK: Increase in psychological diseases
The health insurance fund DAK reported a significant increase in psychological conditions among its insured members in Hessen during the first half of 2024. The number of absences due to depression or adjustment disorders rose by 20 percent compared to the previous year's period, according to the fund. For the current health status analysis, the Berlin IGES Institute evaluated data from approximately 248,000 employed DAK insured individuals in Hessen.
In total, the health status was at 5.9 percent. This means that, on average, 59 out of 1,000 insured employees and self-employed individuals were absent due to illness each day from January to June. Each DAK-insured employee or self-employed individual in Hessen, on average, took 10.8 sick days during the first half of 2024.
Depression, adjustment disorders, and other psychological conditions accounted for 191 sick days per 100 insured individuals in Hessen during the first half of the year. In the previous year's first half, this number was 160 days. DAK Landeschefin Britta Dalhoff describes this development as "alarming."
Respiratory issues such as coughing, the common cold, and influenza-like infections caused the most work absences with 220 sick days per 100 insured individuals. In second place were psychological conditions with 191 sick days per 100 insured individuals. Musculoskeletal conditions were responsible for 186 sick days per 100 insured individuals.
In Frankfurt am Main, the city located in the state of Hesse, the DAK health insurance fund observed a rise in psychological conditions among their insured members. This increase led to an absenteeism rate of 20 percent due to depression or adjustment disorders. Britta Dalhoff, the DAK Landeschefin based in Hesse, expressed concern about this development in health among their insured members.
