GLP-1 Drugs Linked to 17% Reduction in Long-Term Sick Leave, Economic Study Finds
核心洞察
A National Bureau of Economic Research (搜索) study found GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy reduced long-term sick leave by 17% among users.
The reduction in absences of more than 30 days translated to savings of up to 1.5% of a worker's salary, or roughly $866 on average.
Researchers attribute the decline in long-term sickness to improvements in underlying cardiometabolic health, including reduced cardiovascular events.
A new economic study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (搜索) (NBER) has found that GLP-1 receptor agonist medications are associated with a 17% reduction in long-term sick leave among employees, suggesting that the blockbuster drug class may generate significant economic benefits beyond their established clinical effects.
The study, which analyzed worker and medication usage data from Denmark, defined long-term sick leave as illness-related absences lasting more than 30 days. Researchers found that patients using GLP-1 drugs—sold under brand names including Ozempic and Wegovy—took substantially less extended leave compared to those not using the medications.
"The reduction in long-term sickness leave is consistent with improvements in underlying cardiometabolic health," the study authors wrote, pointing to the drugs' known benefits in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.
Economic Impact and Cost Savings
The reduction in worker absences translated to savings of up to 1.5% of an individual's salary, or roughly $866 on average, according to the analysis. The financial implications differ between employers and government payers due to Denmark's sick leave policies, which are more generous than those in the United States.
In Denmark, employers are required to pay workers their full salaries for illness-related absences of up to 30 days, while the government covers long-term sickness leave beyond that threshold. Consequently, a reduction in short-term illness generated savings for employers, while fewer longer-term absences saved the government money.
"Those events, we'd imagine, would lead to long-term absences from work," said Jonathan Zhang, a study co-author and professor at Duke University (搜索), referring to major cardiovascular events. "So you can imagine the savings of not having those absences."
Applicability to the U.S. Labor Market
Zhang noted that the findings could extend to the American workforce, despite the stark differences in sick leave policies between the two countries. The U.S. lacks the generous sick leave protections found in Denmark, which creates a different dynamic around illness and productivity.
"In the U.S., which doesn't have the generous sick leave policy of Denmark, people get sick and they go to work. They're less productive because they feel crappy," Zhang said, noting that neither the employee nor the firm benefits in such a scenario.
He added that if GLP-1 drugs help reduce "presenteeism"—when employees come to work but cannot perform at their best due to health issues—companies could become more productive while workers could get more done and potentially earn more promotions.
"There are fiscal benefits, but that doesn't look like savings for the patient or the individual, because sick leave benefits are so generous," Zhang said, referring to the Danish context where long-term leave is government-funded.
Broader Implications of GLP-1 Therapy
Originally developed as diabetes (搜索) drugs, GLP-1 receptor agonists have soared in popularity for weight loss indications. Ongoing research continues to suggest the medications could have additional positive impacts, including reduced risks of cardiovascular disease (搜索) and some cancers. The new economic data adds a workforce productivity dimension to the growing body of evidence supporting the broader societal value of these therapies.