Predictors and estimation of risk for early exit from working life by poor health among middle and older aged workers in Korea

Status and Risk of Noncompliance of Adherence to Medications for Metabolic Diseases According to Occupational Characteristics

Thus far, little attention has been paid to adherence to medications focusing on the workers and occupational characteristics. This study aimed to assess the status and risk of noncompliance among workers compared to nonworkers, and the association between nonadherence to medication of metabolic diseases and occupational characteristics. Self-reported adherence to medications for hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia and occupational characteristics were evaluated using the Korea Health Panel Study (2008-2018). The status of adherence to medications was evaluated based on working status, with detailed reasons provided for noncompliance. The risk of noncompliance was estimated using the generalized estimating equation, and a subgroup analysis with age-standardized prevalence ratio according to occupational characteristics was also conducted. During the follow-up period, 19,660 (13.9%) person years were noncompliant with medication adherence for 141,807 person years. Workers had a higher prevalence (15.0%) of noncompliance than nonworkers (13.0%). Workers (OR:1.10, 95% CI:1.04-1.14) showed an increased risk of noncompliance compared to nonworkers. Workers who were manual, unpaid family workers, irregular, or dispatched workers showed an increased prevalence of noncompliance. This study found that workers were susceptible to nonadherence to metabolic disease medication. Future research on the role of working conditions in medication adherence would benefit metabolic disease prevention.

The influence of late retirement on health outcomes among older adults in the policy context of delayed retirement initiative: an empirical attempt of clarifying identification bias

Background

The deepening population aging is urging policy makers to launch delayed retirement initiative, when the society is faced with unprecedented challenges of shrinking labor supply, heavier pension burdens and slowing economic growth. However, the health outcomes of late retirees receive scarce attention due to the intrinsic identification difficulties (i.e., (1) self-selection bias – older adults with predetermined ill-health are less likely to delay retirement. (2) there can be situations where the status of late retirement has terminated at the time of interview, although he/she has ever delayed retirement). To fill in this research gap, this study examines the effect of late retirement on the difficulty in physical functioning and problems of cognitive status among older adults.

Method

Using the data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS-2015 harmonized, and CHARLS-2018), this study investigates the influence of late retirement (year 2015) on the difficulty in physical functioning and problems of cognitive status (year 2018) among older adults. A series of robustness checks are also conducted.

Results

Empirical results show that late retirement is associated with better physical functioning and cognitive status. The influence remains robust after considering potential self-selection bias and the sensitivity of including/excluding older adults who have past late retirement experience but have no longer been late retirees at the time of survey.

Conclusion

This study suggests that older adults might benefit from the engagement in late careers in their physical and cognitive functioning.

Returns to Educational and Occupational Attainment in Cognitive Performance for Middle-Aged South Korean Men and Women

Background: Gender differences in late middle-age cognitive performance may be explained by differences in educational or occupational attainment rates, or gender-patterned returns of similar education and occupation to cognitive reserve. We tested these competing hypotheses in the historically highly gender unequal context of South Korea. Methods: Data came from the 2006 wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. We included adults aged 45-65 years. Using quantile regression decompositions, we decomposed cognitive performance differences across quantiles into differences due to rates of educational and occupational attainment and differences due to divergent returns to those characteristics. Results: Gender-based cognitive performance differences across deciles were driven by differences in rates of educational and occupational attainment, while the returns to these characteristics were similar for both genders. Conclusions: Findings suggest that educational and occupational characteristics contribute to cognitive performance similarly in men and women, but discordant rates of these characteristics contribute to performance gaps.

Physical performances show conflicting associations in aged manual workers

Ageing is associated with a decrease in physical performance implying that aged manual workers may be unable to match the physical requirements of their jobs. In this cross-sectional study, 96 male manual workers aged 51–72 years were recruited. Outcomes included handgrip strength (HGS), fat-free mass (FFM), fat percentage, cardiorespiratory fitness (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\dot{{\rm{V}}}$$\end{document}V˙O₂max), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume after 1 s (FEV₁), spinal flexibility, sit-to-stand test performance and static balance. Covariates included height, smoking habits, leisure-time physical activity and systemic inflammation from blood samples. Outcomes were also compared with general populations. Age was negatively related to FFM and FEV₁, whereas static balance (velocity of displacement) was positively associated with age. Greater HGS, but poorer \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\dot{{\rm{V}}}$$\end{document}V˙O₂max and FEV₁/FEV ratio were found compared with general populations. Age was negatively related with physical performances although a large part of the variance in performance could be explained by factors other than age such as smoking and systemic inflammation. The manual workers had greater muscle strength but had poorer cardiorespiratory fitness and lung function when compared with general populations. Specific health interventions targeting specifically cardiorespiratory fitness, lung function, and balance may be needed to maintain physical performances among manual workers.

Association between irregular menstrual cycles and occupational characteristics among female workers in Korea

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between irregular menstrual cycles and occupational characteristics among Korean female workers.

STUDY DESIGN

We analyzed data on paid female workers from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V (2010-2012).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We evaluated the possible associations between irregular menstrual cycles and work variables (occupational classification, working hours, and shift work) using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Weighted prevalence was calculated according to each work variable to approximate the Korean population.

RESULTS

Irregular menstrual cycles were the most common in women in the 'pink collar' group (16.61%). The frequency of irregular menstrual cycles was 2-fold higher in women working >60 h per week (25.64%) than in those working 20-60 h per week (11.09%). Irregular menstrual cycles were more prevalent in shift workers (15.85%) than in non-shift workers (11.06%). A significantly high risk of irregular menstrual cycles was found for pink-collar occupations (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.687, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.044-2.710, reference: white-collar occupation group) and in women with long working hours (adjusted OR = 2.139, 95% CI = 1.243-3.559, reference: 20-60 working hours group) and shift work (adjusted OR = 1.487, 95% CI = 1.028-2.118, reference: fixed working schedule group).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed associations between irregular menstrual cycles and occupational characteristics of female workers. Long working hours, shift work, and pink-collar occupations are positively associated with irregular menstrual cycles. Therefore, working hours and shift schedules for female workers should be structured considering these factors. Further research is needed to determine the optimal working time and shift schedules for female workers.