Physical capability in midlife and risk of disability pension and long-term sickness absence: prospective cohort study with register follow-up

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the association of physical capability with health-related labor market outcomes among older workers. METHODS: The prospective risk of disability pension and long-term sickness absence (LTSA) of ≥6 weeks was estimated from physical capability on 5076 older workers (age 49–63 years) from the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank (CAMB). Physical capability was objectively measured through nine different tests (jump performance, postural balance, chair-rise, explosive muscle strength, maximal strength of the hand, back and abdominal muscles, lung capacity, and aerobic fitness) and linked to a high-quality register on social transfer payments among all Danish residents. Cox-regression analyses estimated the association of physical capability with risk of disability pension and LTSA. RESULTS: For all measures, low physical capability [≥1 standard deviation (SD) below the mean for each gender] was associated with increased risk of disability pension and/or LTSA, whereas high physical capability (≥1 SD above the mean for each gender) was not. A capability−response association was observed between the number of tests with low capability and disability pension and LTSA (P40% of premature exits from the labor market.

Keywords

• exercise
• older worker
• prospective cohort study
• physical capacity
• labor market
• long-term sickness absence
• muscle strength
• disability pension
• midlife
• physical capability
• register follow-up
• maximal oxygen uptake
• lung capacity
• aerobic fitness