Mortality Rates Among Disability Pensioners
Author Information
Author(s): Wallman Thorne, Wedel Hans, Johansson Saga, Rosengren Annika, Eriksson Henry, Welin Lennart, Svärdsudd Kurt
Primary Institution: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology Section, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Hypothesis
Do disability pensioners have a higher mortality rate than non-retired individuals, and if so, what factors contribute to this difference?
Conclusion
Disability pensioners have higher mortality rates compared to non-retired individuals, with only minor influence from socio-economic and health factors.
Supporting Evidence
- 24.4% of subjects had a disability pension at baseline or received one during follow-up.
- The hazards ratio for mortality was 2.78 for women and 3.43 for men on disability pensions.
- The higher mortality rate was not explained by the cause of disability pension or underlying diseases.
Takeaway
People who get disability pensions tend to die more often than those who keep working, even if they have similar health problems.
Methodology
Data from five longitudinal cohort studies in Sweden were analyzed using Poisson regression and Cox's proportional hazards regression models.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of selection bias due to the study design and potential misclassification of disability pension status.
Limitations
The study may underestimate mortality differences due to potential misclassification of early retirees and variations in follow-up time.
Participant Demographics
6887 participants, including 3738 men and 3149 women, all under 65 years at baseline.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95%CI: 2.08–3.71 for women, 95%CI: 2.61–4.51 for men
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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