Details:

Alternative Title:
Am J Ind Med
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23403
Personal Author:
Sears, Jeanne M. ; Fulton-Kehoe, Deborah ; Hogg-Johnson, Sheilah
Sears, Jeanne M. ; Fulton-Kehoe, Deborah ; Hogg-Johnson, Sheilah Less -
Description:
Background:

Older workers are increasingly represented in the U.S. workforce, but frequently work part-time/intermittently, hindering accurate injury rate estimates. To reduce the impact of reporting barriers on rate comparisons, we focused on reinjury (both injury recurrence and new injury) among workers with a workers’ compensation claim, assessing: (1) reinjury risk for workers age 65+ vs. <65; (2) importance of work-time at-risk measurement for rate estimates and comparisons; and (3) age distribution of potential risk factors.

Methods:

Washington State workers’ compensation claims for a retrospective cohort of workers with work-related permanent impairments were linked to state wage files. Reinjury rates were calculated for the cohort (N=11,184) and a survey sample (N=582), using both calendar time and full-time equivalent (FTE)-adjusted time. Risk differentials were assessed using rate ratios and adjusted survival models.

Results:

The rate ratio for workers age 65+ (vs. <65) was 0.45 (p<0.001) using calendar time, but 0.70 (p=0.07) using FTE-adjusted time. Survey-based rates were 35.7 per 100 worker-years for workers age 65+, vs. 14.8 for <65. Workers age 65+ (vs. <65) were more likely to work <100% FTE, but were similar regarding job strain, ability to handle physical job demands, and comfort reporting unsafe conditions or injuries.

Conclusions:

Accounting for work-time at risk substantially improves age-based reinjury comparisons. Although the marked elevation in self-reported reinjury risk for older workers might be a small-sample artifact (n=34), workers age 65+ are likely at higher risk than previously appreciated. Ongoing workforce trends demand increased attention to injury surveillance and prevention for older workers.


Subject:
[+]
Aged Article Cohort Studies Employment Humans Medicare Occupational Injuries Permanent Impairment Reinjuries Reinjury Retrospective Studies Return To Work Surveillance Workers' Compensation Workers’ Compensation Workforce Aged Occupational Injuries
Source:
Am J Ind Med. 65(8):627-643
Pubmed ID:
35665525
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC9354702
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
R21 OH011355/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R21OH011355/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/
R21 OH011355/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R21OH011355/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/ Less -
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:75f58fa02a9bec35852177a3017ea27c5b9084733b1c894e39fa46ff06f5baca
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