A single blood test can indicate the risk of 8 diseases – and there is also a link to absenteeism

A person’s body can be up to 20 years younger or older than their actual age. This so-called metabolic age isn’t visible on the surface, and it’s influenced primarily by lifestyle. However, a new type of blood test can now reveal signs of the body’s aging.

At the same time, the test reveals health and work ability risks that could be prevented. The average metabolic age of an entire workplace may also differ from the calendar age.

This new type of laboratory test was developed by the Finnish company Nightingale Health, and in Finland it is offered by the domestic company Terveystalo as part of occupational health examinations. The test is also available to private customers.

Based on a single blood sample, the test reveals a person’s risk of developing eight lifestyle-related diseases and how lifestyle factors influence them.

– The risk of developing a disease can be high even if, for example, cholesterol levels are normal, says Ilse Rauhaniemi, Chief Physician of Occupational Health at Terveystalo.

– We have long known that instead of relying on individual lab tests, we should assess overall risk. The Nightingale study is groundbreaking because a single blood sample provides a cost-effective, comprehensive picture of metabolic health and disease risks.

When Terveystalo analyzed the risk profiles of more than 200,000 occupational health clients, it was found that the health risks indicated by blood tests are clearly linked to sick leave, regardless of a person’s age. The analysis was based on anonymous data, in which individual persons cannot be identified and personal information cannot be linked to health data.

The more conditions a person had that placed them in a high-risk group, the more sick leave they had accumulated over the previous three years.

– For many people, lifestyle-related diseases bring to mind diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, but the same underlying factors are linked to many cancers and the most common occupational health issues, such as musculoskeletal disorders and mental health-related absences, says Rauhaniemi.

Metabolic age and disease risks can be greatly influenced by one’s own lifestyle. Rauhaniemi emphasizes, however, that the responsibility does not lie solely with the individual.

– Our current lifestyle is undermining the health of us all. Measures taken in the workplace play a major role. Effective work arrangements, active breaks, a safe atmosphere, and good leadership help us cope with daily life.

With Nightingale, it’s easy to see if there’s anything at the workplace that deviates from the industry norm and warrants attention. It also allows you to examine the health situation within the workplace, for example, across different departments. Due to data protection, results are not reviewed at the individual level, and the group being examined must be sufficiently large.

– With Nightingale’s survey, we can for the first time provide workplaces with objective, group-level data on the health situation at the workplace. We can see where efforts should be particularly focused.

For example, the results of a company’s customer service team may differ from those of other teams within the same organization. There can be many underlying reasons for this, ranging from a lack of breaks to management issues.

– When it can be objectively determined that people are struggling, it becomes possible to consider what can be done about it at the organizational level. Never before has there been such an opportunity to target support and take action based on such robust data. You don’t have to do everything for everyone, says Rauhaniemi.

Targeted measures can include, for example, changes to the team’s daily routine or coaching to improve stress management. At one shipping company, for instance, a nutritionist has helped ship cooks make the meals in the cargo ships’ workplace cafeterias healthier.

These measures can help prevent risks from materializing.

– Health and work ability should be managed just like any other business risk, says Rauhaniemi.

A recent "Näin Suomi voi" study reveals that Terveystalo succeeded in significantly reducing sick leave last year —by 4 percent— through effective occupational health collaboration with its clients.

This means there were 275,000 fewer sick days than in 2024. Since the average cost of a single sick day to an employer is 420 euros, the savings amount to approximately 116 million euros.

A similar downward trend in sick leave is not generally visible at the population level, for example in Kela’s sickness benefit statistics. Terveystalo’s data also shows a greater downward trend in absences due to mental health disorders.

– The key to these results is well-managed collaboration between the occupational health team and the client. Work ability is managed in a targeted manner based on data, says Jukka Pitkänen, Chief Medical Officer of Healthcare Services.

Terveystalo has developed a tool tailored to its clients’ needs that predicts risks to work ability based on factors such as absences and, if necessary, sends an alert to an occupational health nurse, occupational physical therapist, or occupational health physician. The risk factors identified by the tool have been shown to strongly predict long-term or permanent work disability.

– It helps ensure that occupational health resources are used appropriately. People are referred to the right specialist as quickly and directly as possible. For example, in cases of musculoskeletal disorders, they are referred directly to an occupational physical therapist, says Pitkänen.

When action is taken quickly and with a low threshold, problems do not have time to become chronic. For example, Terveystalo has succeeded in significantly reducing mental health-related absences in workplaces where employees have had access to brief psychotherapy. Sick leave decreased by more than 10 days per employee.

In his previous role as an occupational health physician, Jukka Pitkänen has worked to address issues such as excessive alcohol use that have arisen within client organizations.

– It’s always quite eye-opening for an employer to realize they hadn’t noticed or considered something like this, he says.

On the other hand, by the time an employer becomes concerned, the work ability issue has often already progressed significantly.

According to Pitkänen, data-driven management and risk anticipation are routine in occupational health. Various reports and health surveys highlight work ability risks that are critical to the company, making it possible to address them in a timely manner.

Studies show that people are more likely to succeed in changing their lifestyles if they have clear, measurable goals and the ability to track their progress. Nightingale’s research data and clear reports are well-suited for this purpose.

The same applies to companies: occupational health measures and results must be measurable.

– Customers are always interested when data can be used to show that the savings from reduced absenteeism are greater than the money invested in services.