Differential underestimation of work-related reinjury risk for older workers: Challenges to producing accurate rate estimates

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Am J Ind Med
• Personal Author:
  Sears, Jeanne M. ; Fulton-Kehoe, Deborah ; Hogg-Johnson, Sheilah
• 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.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Aged Article Cohort Studies Employment Humans Medicare Occupational Injuries Permanent Impairment Reinjuries Reinjury Retrospective Studies Return To Work Surveillance Workers' Compensation Workers’ Compensation Workforce

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• 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/
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065359
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:27fd6c3876b842f46b4ee920b6634155411aa5819a87aff1967e25a752ba51f367543f83630b285e94ce41a002d17842a23e60a2307bfc2e1e84a04b0c8dd250
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/120009/cdc_120009_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 175.50 KB ]