The impact of longstanding illness and common mental disorder on competing employment exits routes in older working age: A longitudinal data-linkage study in Sweden

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229221
• Publication Date: 2020-02-25T13:25:20Z
• Authors: Lisa Harber-Aschan; Wen-Hao Chen; Ashley McAllister; Natasja Koitzsch ...; Karsten Thielen; Ingelise Andersen; Finn Diderichsen; Ben Barr; Bo Burström
• Keywords: Disability pension

Objectives Comorbidity is prevalent in older working ages and might affect employment exits. This study aimed to 1) assess the associations between comorbidity different exit routes, 2) examine such by gender. Methods We used data from employed adults aged 50–62 Stockholm Public Health Survey 2002 2006, linked longitudinal administrative income records (N = 10,416). The morbidity measure combined Limiting Longstanding Illness Common Mental Disorder—captured General Questionnaire-12 (≥4)—into a categorical variable: No Illness, no Disorder, only, 3) Disorder 4) comorbid Illness+Common Disorder. Employment status was followed up until 2010, treating early retirement, disability pension unemployment as Competing risk regression analysed stratifying Results Compared associated with retirement men (subdistribution hazard ratio 1.73, 95% confidence intervals: 1.08–2.76), but not women. For women, strong for were observed only 11.43, 9.40–13.89) 14.25, 10.91–18.61), lesser extent 2.00, 1.31–3.05). Women more likely through than 1.96, 1.60–2.39). category 1.70, 1.36–2.15). Conclusions Strong specific categories which differed Initiatives extend lives should consider workers’ varied health needs prevent inequalities age.