Highest sickness rate found in Saxony-Anhalt across the entire Federal Republic
In the first half of 2025, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, experienced a significant increase in sick days due to flu and colds. According to an analysis conducted by the Berlin IGES Institute on behalf of DAK-Health, the average number of sick days per 100 insured persons for respiratory illnesses was around 262.
The analysis, which examined sick notes from almost 46,000 DAK-insured employees in Saxony-Anhalt, revealed that more than half (55.7 percent) of working-age individuals were sick at least once between January and June. Respiratory conditions accounted for the largest share of sick leave at 22 percent, surpassing mental health conditions such as depression (15 percent) and musculoskeletal disorders like back pain (19 percent).
While there is no specific publicly available information about an IGES Institute analysis on the increase in respiratory illnesses and sick days in Saxony-Anhalt compared to 2024, some contextual information can be provided. As of 2025, the German government advisory panel warned of an increase in COVID-19 cases alongside other respiratory infections, suggesting a trend of rising respiratory illness.
In Saxony-Anhalt’s Börde district, outbreaks of the oak processionary moth in 2024 and 2025 have posed respiratory health risks due to inhalation of their stinging hairs. Hospitals in Magdeburg, the capital city of Saxony-Anhalt, experienced structural and financial challenges in early 2025, partly due to rising material and personnel costs, which could reflect broader pressures from increased patient loads, possibly including respiratory cases.
Despite these challenges, the overall sickness rate in the first half of the year was 6.6 percent, slightly below last year's level (6.8 percent). The average duration of illness per case was 10.3 days, shorter than in the first half of 2024 (10.8 days). The analysis results were published in a current press release by DAK-Health Saxony-Anhalt.
It's important to note that, if this specific IGES Institute report exists, it may not yet be publicly posted or indexed prominently online as of August 2025. For precise figures and analysis outcomes, I recommend consulting direct publications from the IGES Institute or DAK-Health press releases and reports, or contacting these organizations directly.
- The analysis by the Berlin IGES Institute reveals that respiratory conditions were the leading cause of sick leave among working-age individuals in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, in the first half of 2025, accounting for approximately 22% of all sick days.
- While mental health conditions and musculoskeletal disorders also contributed significantly to sick days, they were surpassed by respiratory conditions in terms of prevalence.
- The increasing trend of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, was highlighted by a German government advisory panel in 2025, suggesting a potential link between the rise in respiratory conditions and the overall increase in sick days reported in Saxony-Anhalt.
- In light of the potential impact of respiratory illnesses on overall health and wellness, it is essential to consider factors such as fitness and exercise, nutrition, and medical-conditions management to promote respiratory health and minimize the impact of sick days on individual productivity and societal health.
