Cancer, pregnancy, back disorders are leading causes of disability

Unum, a leading provider of disability benefits, reported last week a summary of conditions and diseases associated with long-term and short-term disability claims.

The company said that for more than a decade, cancer, pregnancy and back disorders have been the top causes of disability claims, but employees often believe injuries cause the most missed work.

According to Unum’s data, in 2011, injuries prompted only 10 percent of long-term disability claims and 11 percent of short-term disability claims.  Leading causes of long-term disability claims in 2011 were:

• Cancer, 15 percent
• Back disorders (excluding injury), 14.6 percent
• Injuries, 10.4 percent
• Behavioral health issues, 10.1 percent
• Circulatory system disorders, 9.3 percent
• Joint disorders, 8.5 percent

Leading causes of short-term disability were:
• Normal pregnancy, 18.9 percent
• Injuries, 10.9 percent
• Complications from pregnancy, 8.8 percent
• Digestive disorders, 8 percent
• Back disorders, 7 percent
•  Cancer, 6.6 percent