Productive-Age Workers Prone to Health Disorders, Respiratory Infections and Muscle Problems Top Complaints
The health condition of workers in Indonesia shows different patterns in each age group. The Indonesia Employee Health & Benefit Insight 2026 report reveals that workers under 30 years of age experience more Acute Respiratory Infections (ISPA), whilst workers aged 30 to 49 years are dominated by musculoskeletal disorders or problems with muscles and joints. Meanwhile, the age group over 50 years is more susceptible to chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders and cancer.
The findings were compiled based on more than one million health service transactions in the first quarter of 2026. The data covers more than 3,000 ICD-10 diagnoses from more than 30 industrial sectors in Indonesia, providing an overview of the health conditions of workers in various fields.
Chief of Medical Halodoc, dr. Irwan Heriyanto, MARS, explained that age is one of the factors influencing the type of illness most often experienced by workers.
Workers under 30 years of age are more susceptible to acute illnesses, especially ISPA. This condition is thought to be related to high mobility, activities in public spaces, and the use of public transportation, which increase the risk of respiratory infection transmission.
Meanwhile, in the 30 to 49 age group, the most common complaints are musculoskeletal disorders, such as muscle, joint, neck, back, and waist pain. These complaints are generally related to work activities, whether due to physical labour or the habit of sitting for too long in front of a computer.
Entering the age of 50 and above, disease patterns begin to shift towards chronic illnesses. The risk of cardiovascular disease increases with the emergence of comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, regular health checks are an important step for early disease detection.
Maintaining health during work is a crucial effort to prevent the onset of various diseases. Workers are advised to adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as consuming nutritious food, exercising regularly, getting enough rest, and stretching during work breaks, especially for those who sit for long periods.
In addition, using appropriate personal protective equipment and maintaining hand hygiene can also help reduce the risk of ISPA transmission, particularly for workers with high mobility.
By understanding disease patterns based on age, both workers and companies are expected to enhance prevention efforts so that health is maintained and work productivity can be sustained.