Regional differences in rates of work disability growing – morbidity statistics show rise in occurrence of diabetes and sleep apnoea nationwide

The statistics on work disability exhibit regional variance in Finland: In Uusimaa, work disability rates have declined from before while primarily remaining the same or increasing in other parts of the country. The work disability index included in the National Health Index provides shows developments in work disability statistics. The work disability index tracks granted disability pensions, longer sickness allowance periods and positive decisions on vocational rehabilitation.

The differences in sickness allowance periods between Uusimaa and the rest of Finland have increased between 2017 and 2024. The incidence of sickness allowance periods has increased further in regions where sickness allowance periods were already more prevalent than in Finland on average. Correspondingly, sickness allowance periods have decreased further in regions with a lower incidence of sickness allowance periods compared to the rest of Finland.

Regional differences have remained fairly small in terms of disability pensions, while regional differences in vocational rehabilitation have narrowed.

Mental health remains a concern

Regions show significant variation in the development of strain caused by different diagnostic categories between 2017 and 2024. The developments in morbidity are reflected in the morbidity indices included in the National Health Index.

When examined by diagnostic category, the largest regional differences can be observed in alcohol morbidity and mental health disorders. Regional differences exist not only in morbidity but also in the use and availability of services.

The mental health index has decreased, on average, nationwide and in almost all wellbeing services counties.  The index tracks special rates of reimbursement for medications granted on the grounds of psychosis and disability pensions granted for mental health reasons as well as suicide attempts and suicide mortality.

Disability pensions granted for mental health reasons have decreased in all regions. This may be due to growing rejection rates for applications for disability pension made on mental health related grounds. There have been no major changes in the statistics for special rates of reimbursement granted for antipsychotics. Suicide mortality was on the decline for a long time but has stagnated in recent years.

Concurrently, other mental health indicators are showing developments that give cause for alarm. Mental strain has increased especially among young people of working age, suicidal ideation has become more prevalent, and the use of antidepressants has become more common especially among young women.

“Mental health remains a concern in Finland. Early access to care needs to be improved and mental health problems should be addressed quickly to prevent them from becoming chronic if we do not want to lose entire careers,” says Kati Sarnola, Senior Researcher at Kela.

Incidence of cardiovascular disease continues to decline – stagnation in the south

For coronary disease and cerebrovascular disease, morbidity has fallen sharply in many regions where their morbidity was high in 2017 based on the indices for coronary disease and cerebrovascular disease. Such regions include, for example, South Karelia, South Savo and Päijät-Häme.

However, the decline in the incidence of cardiovascular disease appears to have stagnated in southern Finland where morbidity was already lower to begin with. This suggests that new measures are needed.

“Disease prevention remains the most effective way to support health. Reliable information on what a healthy lifestyle looks like is already available, but there is a need for societal incentives that encourage the population to make healthy choices, such as health-based taxation,” says Suvi Parikka, Research Manager at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

Diabetes and sleep apnoea on the rise nationwide

The incidence of diabetes and chronic pulmonary diseases is growing sharply in all wellbeing services counties. The increase in the occurrence of pulmonary diseases is explained by the growing prevalence of sleep apnoea diagnoses, which in turn is caused especially by the increase in obesity rates among the working-age population. Obesity is also closely associated with the prevalence of diabetes.

In addition, obesity and a lack of exercise are linked to many other medical conditions, and they may contribute to the increase of e.g. mental health problems, musculoskeletal disorders and circulatory diseases in the long term.

“Obesity and its comorbidities are clearly a growing public health problem. If we cannot stop the rise in obesity rates, morbidity and work disability will increase in the future,” says Kati Sarnola.

National Health Index supports regional decision-making

The National Health Index compiles comprehensive data on morbidity and work disability in one place, allowing reliable comparisons between regions. The indices support decision-making in the wellbeing service counties and help identify regional needs more accurately.

The compiled indices compare the prevalence of morbidity and work disability in regional populations against the national average so that the indicator for the whole country is 100. A figure higher than 100 translates into higher incidence and a figure smaller than 100 to lower incidence of morbidity or work disability in the specific region.

More information

Publication and materials:

• National Health Index 2026 – results for 2017–2024 (julkari.fi)
• Morbidity index at thl.fi
• Work Disability Index on Kela’s Info Tray