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The association of mobility disability and obesity with risk of unemployment in two cohorts from Sweden.

Norrbäck, Mattias ; Tynelius, Per ; Ahlström, Gerd LU orcid and Rasmussen, Finn LU (2019) In BMC Public Health 19(1). p.1-11
Abstract
Background
People with mobility disability (MD) or obesity often have more health problems and are less able to participate in work than individuals without these conditions. This study investigated whether people burdened with MD and obesity have a greater risk of unemployment than people with either one (MD only or obesity only) or none of these conditions.
Methods
The study included two Swedish population-based cohorts, a national cohort (n = 39,947) and a regional cohort (n = 40,088). Six exposure groups were created using baseline self-reported data on MD and body mass index from participants aged 19 to 64 years. The MD definition differed between the cohorts. Various sources of socio-demographic factors were used to... (More)
Background
People with mobility disability (MD) or obesity often have more health problems and are less able to participate in work than individuals without these conditions. This study investigated whether people burdened with MD and obesity have a greater risk of unemployment than people with either one (MD only or obesity only) or none of these conditions.
Methods
The study included two Swedish population-based cohorts, a national cohort (n = 39,947) and a regional cohort (n = 40,088). Six exposure groups were created using baseline self-reported data on MD and body mass index from participants aged 19 to 64 years. The MD definition differed between the cohorts. Various sources of socio-demographic factors were used to address confounding. Participants’ risks of unemployment were assessed longitudinally in a nationwide register with objective data and with almost no loss of follow-up (< 1%). Cox regression was used to analyse associations of MD and/or obesity (BMI ≥ 30) with risk of any (≥1 day) and long-term unemployment (≥90 days during two consecutive years). Quantile regression was used to estimate participants’ unemployment risks as average days of unemployment. Normal-weight people without MD were used as a reference group. The Wald test was applied for specific group comparisons other than to the reference group.
Results
In summary, the groups with MD and the obese group without MD had a higher risk of becoming unemployed than the reference group (regional survey adjusted hazard ratio range: 1.30–1.59; 95% CI range: 1.06–1.90, national survey adjusted hazard ratio range: 1.11–1.34; 95% CI range: 0.88–1.81). The obese group with MD did not differ from the groups with MD only or obesity only in terms of unemployment risk.
Conclusions
People with MD and/or obesity are vulnerable groups at risk of prolonged unemployment during their working life in a country with a highly developed welfare system. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Public Health
volume
19
issue
1
article number
347
pages
1 - 11
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85063753378
  • pmid:30922278
ISSN
1471-2458
DOI
10.1186/s12889-019-6627-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0944014d-0af5-464e-8cf9-eb2d7c7cdd8d
date added to LUP
2019-04-12 10:57:45
date last changed
2024-02-14 21:47:30
@article{0944014d-0af5-464e-8cf9-eb2d7c7cdd8d,
  abstract     = {{Background<br>
People with mobility disability (MD) or obesity often have more health problems and are less able to participate in work than individuals without these conditions. This study investigated whether people burdened with MD and obesity have a greater risk of unemployment than people with either one (MD only or obesity only) or none of these conditions.<br>
Methods<br>
The study included two Swedish population-based cohorts, a national cohort (n = 39,947) and a regional cohort (n = 40,088). Six exposure groups were created using baseline self-reported data on MD and body mass index from participants aged 19 to 64 years. The MD definition differed between the cohorts. Various sources of socio-demographic factors were used to address confounding. Participants’ risks of unemployment were assessed longitudinally in a nationwide register with objective data and with almost no loss of follow-up (&lt; 1%). Cox regression was used to analyse associations of MD and/or obesity (BMI ≥ 30) with risk of any (≥1 day) and long-term unemployment (≥90 days during two consecutive years). Quantile regression was used to estimate participants’ unemployment risks as average days of unemployment. Normal-weight people without MD were used as a reference group. The Wald test was applied for specific group comparisons other than to the reference group.<br>
Results<br>
In summary, the groups with MD and the obese group without MD had a higher risk of becoming unemployed than the reference group (regional survey adjusted hazard ratio range: 1.30–1.59; 95% CI range: 1.06–1.90, national survey adjusted hazard ratio range: 1.11–1.34; 95% CI range: 0.88–1.81). The obese group with MD did not differ from the groups with MD only or obesity only in terms of unemployment risk.<br>
Conclusions<br>
People with MD and/or obesity are vulnerable groups at risk of prolonged unemployment during their working life in a country with a highly developed welfare system.}},
  author       = {{Norrbäck, Mattias and Tynelius, Per and Ahlström, Gerd and Rasmussen, Finn}},
  issn         = {{1471-2458}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--11}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Public Health}},
  title        = {{The association of mobility disability and obesity with risk of unemployment in two cohorts from Sweden.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6627-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12889-019-6627-2}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}