Work-Related Low-Back Injury and Increased Rate of Death

Do certain types of work-related disabilities lead to an increased rate of death? This question has not been well studied. Recently published research, “Increased overall and cause‐specific mortality associated with disability among workers’ compensation claimants with low back injuries,” examined the issue. [1]  The study found that those with a lost-time disabling low-back workers’ compensation claim had a higher rate of mortality when compared to those with claims accepted for the same diagnoses who did not miss time from work. The study looked at 14, 219 workers in West Virginia with an accepted workers’ compensation claim for a low back