CAUSES OF DISABILITY ON THE PRIVATE ALLOW ANCES SYSTEM IN CHILE

Background: The degree of disability of workers ascribed to the privat e allowances system in Chile, is judged by Medical Commissions that ap ply norms that establish percentages of incapacity, without considerin g prognosis. Aim: To communicate the causes of disability among Chilea n workers ascribed to the private allowances system, their mortality a nd to correlate the causes of death with diagnoses. Subjects and metho ds: We analyzed 13,456 consecutive cases judged between August 1990 an d April 1992. Mortality was registered up to 12 months after judgment. Results: Total incapacity was determined in 4,158 cases (30.9%), part ial incapacity in 1,340 (9.9%) and minor incapacity in 7,958 (59.1%). Osteoarticular diseases were the main cause of disability in 4,460 pat ients (33.1%) and 77.8% of patients with malignant tumors were conside red as having total incapacity. Mortality was 17% among subjects with total incapacity, 1.5% among those with partial disability and 1% amon g those with minor disability. The cause of death was related to the m ain disabling disease in 94% of subjects with total incapacity and 66. 6% of those with partial incapacity. Conclusions: Osteoarticular disea ses are the main cause of inability among workers ascribed to a privat e pension system.