Table 2.

Frequencies of explanatory variables N (%), and the proportions N (%) obtaining disability pension (DP) during 5 years follow-up according to musculoskeletal groups and sociodemographic variables

	Men				Women
Explanatory variables	N	%	DP	DP%	N	%	DP	DP%
Rheumatoid arthritis	777	3.0	306	39.4	1220	3.2	614	50.3
Osteoarthrosis	644	2.4	269	41.8	880	2.3	452	51.4
Myalgia/fibromyalgia	523	2.0	145	27.7	1836	4.8	757	41.2
Neck problems	2335	8.9	574	24.6	5016	13.2	1194	23.8
Back problems	8979	34.1	1598	17.8	11164	29.4	2246	20.1
Other	1829	7.0	288	15.7	5838	15.4	812	13.9
Upper extremities, non traumatic	4625	17.6	792	17.1	7300	19.2	1565	21.4
Lower extremities, non traumatic	874	3.3	120	13.7	1053	2.8	218	20.7
Fractures and injuries	5721	21.7	510	8.9	3635	9.6	551	15.2
All	26307	100.0	4602	17.5	37942	100.0	8409	22.2
Age
16-29	5122	19,5	98	1.9	7448	19.6	163	2.2
30-39	7698	29,3	516	6.7	9992	26.3	886	8.9
40-49	6989	26,6	1162	16.6	10183	26.8	2418	23.7
50-59	5622	21,4	2312	41.1	9122	24.0	4229	46.4
60-62	876	3,3	514	58.7	1197	3.2	713	59.6
Education (years)
Basic 7-9	3134	11.9	1311	41.8	4538	12.0	2238	49.3
Lower middle 10-12	9579	36.4	1534	16.0	14876	39.2	3625	24.4
Higher middle 13-15	10866	41.3	1393	12.8	12760	33.6	1764	13.8
Academic > 15	1479	5.6	182	12.3	4646	12.2	584	12.6
Missing	1249	4.7	182	14.6	1122	3.0	198	17.6
Annual income NOK*
< 125,000	3163	12.0	479	15.1	9530	25.1	2131	22.4
125, 000-199,999	7083	26.9	1303	18.4	18615	49.1	4271	22.9
200,000-274 999	11954	45.4	2240	18.7	8640	22.8	1831	21.2
> 275,000	4048	15.4	580	14.3	1126	3.0	176	15.6
Weekly working hours
0-19	835	3.2	220	26.3	5580	14.7	1535	27.5
20-29	565	2.1	101	17.9	6278	16.5	1389	22.1
30+	19328	73.5	2712	14.0	17648	46.5	3188	18.1
Missing	5579	21.2	1569	28.1	8436	22.2	2297	27.2

N = 26,307 men and 37,942 women sickness absent > 8 weeks