Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender and socio-economic variations in employment among patients with a diagnosed musculoskeletal disorder
T2 - a longitudinal record linkage study in Sweden
AU - Holland, Paula
AU - Burström, Bo
AU - Möller, Ida
AU - Whitehead, Margaret
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Objective. To establish whether the employment consequences of musculoskeletal disorder vary by gender and socio-economic group in Sweden.Methods. Two linked registers, containing diagnostic and socio-economic data for the 1.8 million residents of Stockholm County, were used to investigate the subsequent employment consequences over 5 yr of having a musculoskeletal disorder requiring hospital admission in 1996. Age-standardized employment rates of all patients with musculoskeletal disorder (n=2185) were compared with patients employed prior to hospital admission (n=1286) and with the general population of Stockholm. Odds of leaving employment between 1996–2001 were calculated for men, women and patients from different socio-economic groups.Results. Employment rates increased and social differentials narrowed in the general population, while employment declined and social differentials widened among patients with musculoskeletal disorders. These trends were masked when analyses were restricted to individuals employed at baseline. Following hospital admission, the odds of leaving employment increased annually for patients; by 2001, their adjusted odds were over three times greater [odds ratio (OR)=3.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.89–3.91] than for the general population. Women with musculoskeletal disorders were significantly more likely to leave employment during follow-up than men (OR=1.95, 95% CI 1.49–2.56). Semi- and unskilled manual workers with musculoskeletal disorders were over three times as likely to leave employment than their professional counterparts (OR=3.40, 95% CI 2.41–4.81).Conclusions. People with musculoskeletal disorders, particularly women and semi- and unskilled manual workers, are vulnerable to leaving employment. Health and social policies must do more to protect the employment of people with musculoskeletal disorders.
AB - Objective. To establish whether the employment consequences of musculoskeletal disorder vary by gender and socio-economic group in Sweden.Methods. Two linked registers, containing diagnostic and socio-economic data for the 1.8 million residents of Stockholm County, were used to investigate the subsequent employment consequences over 5 yr of having a musculoskeletal disorder requiring hospital admission in 1996. Age-standardized employment rates of all patients with musculoskeletal disorder (n=2185) were compared with patients employed prior to hospital admission (n=1286) and with the general population of Stockholm. Odds of leaving employment between 1996–2001 were calculated for men, women and patients from different socio-economic groups.Results. Employment rates increased and social differentials narrowed in the general population, while employment declined and social differentials widened among patients with musculoskeletal disorders. These trends were masked when analyses were restricted to individuals employed at baseline. Following hospital admission, the odds of leaving employment increased annually for patients; by 2001, their adjusted odds were over three times greater [odds ratio (OR)=3.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.89–3.91] than for the general population. Women with musculoskeletal disorders were significantly more likely to leave employment during follow-up than men (OR=1.95, 95% CI 1.49–2.56). Semi- and unskilled manual workers with musculoskeletal disorders were over three times as likely to leave employment than their professional counterparts (OR=3.40, 95% CI 2.41–4.81).Conclusions. People with musculoskeletal disorders, particularly women and semi- and unskilled manual workers, are vulnerable to leaving employment. Health and social policies must do more to protect the employment of people with musculoskeletal disorders.
KW - Musculoskeletal Disorder
KW - Employment
KW - Gender
KW - Socio-economic group
KW - Sweden
U2 - 10.1093/rheumatology/kel044
DO - 10.1093/rheumatology/kel044
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 16490751
VL - 45
SP - 1016
EP - 1022
JO - Rheumatology
JF - Rheumatology
SN - 1462-0324
IS - 8
ER -