Indonesian Workers Prone to Respiratory Infections; Musculoskeletal Issues Common Among Those in Their 30s

The diseases affecting Indonesian workers change with age, according to a new report. Younger employees are more prone to acute respiratory infections, while workers over 50 are increasingly affected by chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

The findings were published in the Indonesia Employee Health & Benefit Insight 2026 report by Halodoc, which analysed over 1 million health service transactions during the first quarter of 2026, covering more than 3,000 ICD-10 diagnoses across over 30 industrial sectors in Indonesia.

Halodoc’s Chief of Medical, Dr. Irwan Heriyanto, MARS, stated that disease patterns are heavily influenced by age group, identifying three distinct brackets: under 30, 30 to 49, and 50 and above. "We see that in the under-30 age group, acute diseases like upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are common. The 30-49 age group is dominated by musculoskeletal disorders, such as muscle and joint diseases. Meanwhile, the over-50 age group begins to be dominated by cardiovascular and other chronic diseases," he said during the report’s launch in Jakarta on Thursday (16/6/2026).

He explained that the high number of URTI cases among young workers is linked to high mobility and activities in public spaces and public transport, which increase the risk of virus transmission. For the productive 30-49 age group, muscle and joint complaints are often related to work activities, ranging from physical labour to prolonged sitting in front of a computer.

"And for those entering the over-50 age group, the risk of chronic disease increases as various comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes begin to emerge, leading to cardiovascular disease," Dr. Irwan clarified.

Beyond age, the report also found differences in disease profiles based on gender. A total of 81% of patients with cardiovascular disease were male. "Meanwhile, 72% of cancer or neoplasm patients were female, influenced by biological factors such as reproductive organs, hormones, and genetics," he said.

For outpatient diagnoses, the most common illnesses remain upper respiratory tract infections, with symptoms including fever, cough, runny or blocked nose, and headache. In inpatient services, common cases include digestive disorders such as GERD, influenza and pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases.

The report also highlighted the utilisation of medical benefits across different industrial sectors. Halodoc’s Chief Marketing Officer, Fibriyani Elastria, noted that the energy and mining industry recorded the highest healthcare service utilisation and costs. A total of 44% of employees in this sector used their health benefits, with an average cost of IDR 2.3 million per participant in just three months. In comparison, the technology sector saw a 40% utilisation rate with an average cost of IDR 1 million per participant.

The banking sector recorded an average cost of IDR 680,000, retail IDR 500,000, and manufacturing was among the lowest at around IDR 465,000 per participant over the three-month period. "The high costs in the energy and mining sector are influenced by the more complex nature of the work, higher risks, and generally more comprehensive health benefits provided," she said.

Conversely, the technology sector’s lower health costs are attributed to workers being more accustomed to using digital services like telemedicine, which are more cost-efficient. The 30-39 age group was the largest contributor to total health spending, as this productive age group often has families. However, the highest average cost per participant was found in the over-50 age group, due to the more complex diseases requiring long-term treatment.

Dr. Irwan emphasised that companies need to shift their focus from treatment to prevention. He recommended that companies routinely conduct health screenings or medical check-ups, promote healthy lifestyles, physical activity, and stress management, and provide vaccination programmes tailored to employee needs. He stressed that such preventative steps not only maintain worker health but also reduce corporate healthcare costs. "The influenza vaccine alone can reduce patient visits by up to 66%," he said.

Furthermore, patients with chronic diseases can incur average healthcare costs three times higher than other patients. If a chronic disease is accompanied by comorbidities, the cost burden can increase up to elevenfold. "So, I repeat, routine screening and vaccination are important investments for companies to maintain productivity while controlling long-term healthcare costs for workers," Dr. Irwan concluded.