Climacteric Status at Age 46 is Associated with Poorer Work Ability, Lower 2-year Participation in Working Life, and a Higher 7-year Disability Retirement Rate: a Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study

Overview

Journal Menopause

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2024 Feb 27

PMID 38412401

Authors

Tiia Saarinen

Susanna M Savukoski

Paula Pesonen

Eeva Vaaramo

Jaana Laitinen

Tuulia Varanka-Ruuska

Leena Ala-Mursula

Maarit Niinimaki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To study the association between an advanced climacteric status at 46 years of age and current perceived work ability, the consequent 2-year accumulation of disability and unemployment days, and the 7-year incidence of disability pensions.

Methods: Study participants (n = 2,661) were recruited from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study's 46-year follow-up in 2012. The participants' perceived work ability was investigated using the Work Ability Score (0-7 = poor vs 8-10 = good), along with potential covariates. Data concerning their consequent disability days, unemployment days, and disability pensions were collected from national registers. The association between their climacteric status at age 46 years, work ability, and working life participation was assessed using regression models.

Results: The climacteric women were more often smokers and more often had a lower level of education. The odds ratio for poor perceived work ability was 1.41 (95% CI, 1.06-1.87), and the incidence rate ratios for disability and unemployment days during the 2-year follow-up were 1.09 (95% CI, 1.07-1.11) and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.14-1.18), respectively, for the climacteric women compared with the preclimacteric women in models adjusted for smoking and education. The 7-year hazard ratio for disability pensions was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.02-2.91) for the climacteric women.

Conclusions: An earlier menopausal transition is associated with poorer perceived work ability, and it predicts lower recorded work participation and a higher disability pension rate in subsequent years.

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