Search

Occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) are well recognized. Less is known about how these differences develop as individuals age, and how retirement is associated with this change. We investigated how occupational class differences in LTPA change in a cohort over a 15-17 years follow-up. We further examined, how the transition into mandatory or disability retirement contributed to the change in LTPA levels and occupational class differences. We used the data from the Helsinki Health Study surveying the aging City of Helsinki employees. In all, 8773 individuals were included in the analyses. We evaluated LTPA levels using weekly metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours and used generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMM) to estimate the development of LTPA levels. Commuting was included in the LTPA measure. Occupational class differences in LTPA emerged and widened during the follow-up. The physical activity levels decreased in the lower occupational class and slightly increased in the higher occupational class, resulting in a difference of 4.3 MET-hours at the end of follow-up, accounting for 50 min of brisk walking per week. The occupational class differences emerged during transition into mandatory retirement and persisted after this. Transition into disability retirement temporarily widened the occupational class differences in LTPA levels, but the differences diminished during the follow-up. Research on interventions to counteract the declining LTPA is needed to discover ways to prevent the widening of occupational health disparities during aging. The transition into old-age retirement could be an optimal period for focusing these interventions.

Background: Pain is known to be socioeconomically patterned and associated with disability. However, knowledge is scarce concerning life-course socioeconomic circumstances and pain among young adults. Our aim was to examine the associations of childhood and current socioeconomic circumstances with acute pain and chronic pain with low and high disability levels among young Finnish municipal employees. Methods: We analysed questionnaire data retrieved from the Young Helsinki Health Study ( n=4683) covering 18–39-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. We included multiple indicators of childhood and current socioeconomic circumstances and examined their associations with acute pain and with chronic pain with low and high disability levels. The level of chronic pain-related disability was assessed by the chronic pain grade questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted with stepwise adjustments for sociodemographic, socioeconomic and health-related covariates. Results: Childhood and current socioeconomic disadvantage were associated with acute and chronic pain, particularly with chronic pain with high disability level. The strongest associations after adjustments for covariates remained between chronic pain with high disability level and low educational level (odds ratio (OR) 3.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.18–5.24), manual occupation (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.92–7.34) and experiencing frequent economic difficulties (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.00–4.70). Conclusions: Pain is a common complaint that contributes to disability among young employees, particularly the most socioeconomically vulnerable. There is a socioeconomic gradient in both pain chronicity and the level of chronic pain-related disability. Life-course socioeconomic factors should be considered in pain-preventing strategies and in clinical practice.

Background Disadvantageous socioeconomic circumstances and minor mental health problems have both been associated with mental disorders, such as depression, but their joint contribution remains unknown. Methods The Helsinki Health Study baseline survey (2000–02) of 40- to 60-year-old employees was linked with antidepressant medication data from registers of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. The analyses were made using logistic regression with first prescribed antidepressant medication purchase during a 10-year follow-up as the outcome. Minor mental health problems were measured by the emotional well-being scale of the RAND-36. Odds ratios were calculated for joint association of the lowest quartile of the emotional well-being scale of the RAND-36 and socioeconomic circumstances. Childhood (parental education and childhood economic difficulties), conventional (education, occupational class and income) and material (housing tenure and current economic difficulties) socioeconomic circumstances were examined. This study included 5450 participants. Results Minor mental health problems dominated the joint associations. Minor mental health problems were associated with antidepressant medication irrespective of socioeconomic circumstances whereas only low income, current economic difficulties and living in rented housing showed an association without minor mental health problems at baseline. Marital status, working conditions and BMI and health behaviours had only minimal contributions to the associations. Conclusions Minor mental health problems were consistently and strongly associated with antidepressant medication and dominated the joint associations with socioeconomic circumstances. Paying attention to minor mental health problems might help prevent mental disorders such as depression.

Aims: Parental education and childhood adversities are associated with long-term work disability but their contribution to sickness absence is largely unknown. We aimed to examine the associations between parental education, childhood adversities and self-certified and medically-certified sickness absence among midlife employees. Methods: The Helsinki Health Study baseline survey data (2000–2002) of 40-to-60-year-old municipal employees were linked with sickness absence data from the employer’s register. Self-certified (1–3 days) and medically-certified (>3 days) sickness absence spells were followed from 2003 until the end of 2008. The study included 5728 employees. The analyses were made by Poisson regression and the results are presented as rate ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Low maternal education was associated with self-certified sickness absence (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.13–1.55) among women only whereas both low maternal (1.49, 1.26–1.77) and low paternal education (1.48, 1.32–1.67) were associated with medically-certified sickness absence. Adjustment for own occupational class mainly abolished these associations. Having experienced any childhood adversity was associated with self-certified (1.18, 1.12–1.25) and medically-certified (1.22, 1.15–1.30) sickness absence. In addition, childhood economic difficulties, childhood illness, parental divorce, parental mental illness, parental alcohol problems and bullying were each associated both with self-certified and with medically-certified sickness absence. The associations mainly remained after adjustments for occupational class, marital status, working condition, body mass index and health behaviours. Conclusions: Low parental education and childhood adversities contributed to midlife sickness absence. Promoting well-being of families with children might help sustain adult work ability and prevent sickness absence still in midlife.

Aims: Chronic pain is a notable burden on public health, with past and present factors contributing to it. This study aimed to examine the associations between childhood adversities and chronic pain. Methods: Data on seven childhood adversities, chronic pain and disabling pain were derived from questionnaire surveys conducted in 2000, 2001 and 2002 among 40- to 60-year-old employees (response rate of 67%) of the City of Helsinki, Finland. The study included 8140 employees (80% women). Logistic regression was used in the analyses, and the results are presented as odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Age, sex, the father’s education, the participant’s education, marital status, working conditions, sleep problems and common mental disorders were included as covariates. Results: In the age-adjusted models, childhood economic difficulties (OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.41–1.81), childhood illness (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.45–2.08), parental divorce (OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.07–1.48), parental alcohol problems (OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.18–1.52) and bullying at school or among peers (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.37–1.89) were associated with chronic pain. Working conditions, sleep problems and common mental disorders each slightly attenuated the associations between childhood adversities and chronic pain. Childhood economic difficulties among women (OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.40–2.10), childhood illness (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.07–1.82) and bullying at school or by peers (OR=1.91 95% CI 1.48–2.46) were also associated with disabling pain. Conclusions: Childhood adversities were associated with chronic pain in mid-life, and the associations mainly remained after adjustments. Investing in the well-being of children might prevent pain and promote well-being in mid-life.

Objectives Level of perceived interactional justice has been shown to be associated with sickness absence, but less is known about the effects of changes in interactional justice. It is also unknown to what extent unmeasured, time-invariant differences contribute to the association. We investigated the association between interactional justice changes and subsequent short-term (1-3 days) sickness absences over a 12-year follow-up using between- and within-individual modeling among ageing municipal employees. Methods The data was derived from Helsinki Health Study cohort with baseline survey in 2000-2002 (N=8960, response rate 67%) and follow-up surveys in 2007 and 2012 (response rates 79% and 83%, respectively). At baseline, participants were 40-60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. Sickness absences from the employer's registry were linked with the responses (78%). The analytic sample was 2109 and 2070 individuals for between-individual and 4433 individuals and 8425 observations for within-individual associations. Results Negative change in interactional justice was associated with an increased risk of short-term sickness absence in between-individual models after adjusting for age and gender. Adjustment for sickness absence history attenuated the association. In within-individual models, a negative change in perceived interactional justice was associated with an increased risk of short-term sickness absence spells [incidence rate ratios (IRR) 1.05 (95% confidence interval 1.01-1.09)]. This association was robust to adjustments for gender, age, health behaviors and sickness absence history. Conclusions Paying attention to management principles - especially managerial behavior and treatment of employees to avoid the deterioration of the level of interactional justice - may provide a way of reducing self-certified short-term sickness absence spells.

Introduction Chronic pain is common among employees. Childhood adversities are known determinants of adult health but their association with chronic pain in adulthood is largely unknown. We aimed to examine the associations between childhood adversities and chronic pain among midlife employees. Methods Data on seven childhood adversities and chronic pain (pain having lasted at least 3 months) were derived from the baseline survey of the Helsinki Health Study collected in 2000 to 2002 among 40 to 60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki in Finland. The study included 8140 employees of whom 80% were women. The analyses were made by logistic regression and the results are presented as odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Age, gender, father’s education, own education, marital status, working conditions, sleep problems and common mental disorders were included as covariates. Results Economic difficulties in the childhood family (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.41-1.81), childhood illness (1.74, 1.45-2.08), parental divorce (1.26, 1.07-1.48), parental alcohol problems (1.34, 1.18-1.52) and bullying in school or among peers (1.59, 1.37-1.89) were associated with an increased odds of chronic pain in midlife. Adjusting for father’s education, own education and marital status did not contribute to the associations. Working conditions, sleep problems and common mental disorders slightly attenuated the associations between childhood adversities and chronic pain. Conclusions Childhood adversities associate to chronic pain in midlife. The results suggest that promoting well-being among children might lead to less pain decades after childhood. Key messages Childhood adversities are associated with chronic pain in adulthood. Considering well-being among children might lead to less pain decades after childhood.

Introduction Healthy behaviours are associated with better health in general but less is known about the combined associations of multiple healthy behaviours with mortality risk. We aimed to examine the associations of combined healthy behaviours with mortality risk over a 15-year follow-up among middle-aged employees. Methods Survey data, collected in 2000–2002 among 40–60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, was linked with complete register data on mortality from Statistics Finland (response rate 67%, written informed consent for register linkages 74%). Healthy behaviours included high leisure-time physical activity, non-smoking, no binge drinking and healthy food habits. Each healthy behaviour were dichotomized and assigned a value of one for healthy and zero for unhealthy. The number of healthy behaviours were summed together (score range 0-4). Cox regression models were fitted, and the follow-up continued until the end of 2015 (n = 6336). Confounders included age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic position and self-rated health. Results Of the respondents, 7% reported four healthy behaviours, 27% three, 34% two, 22% one and 9% no healthy behaviours. A total of 281 deaths occurred during the follow-up. Each healthy behaviour was individually associated with a reduced mortality risk, non-smoking having the strongest and healthy diet the weakest association. The combined association showed that those without any of the healthy behaviours (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.51-5.29) and those with only one healthy behaviour (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.04-3.43) had a higher mortality risk than those with four healthy behaviours. Instead, those with at least two healthy behaviours were not at an increased risk of mortality. Conclusions A low number of healthy behaviours predicted mortality among middle-aged employees. Efforts should be made to promote multiple healthy behaviours among the middle-aged to enhance health and prevent premature mortality. Key messages Almost one third of the respondents had no or only one healthy behaviour. A low number of healthy behaviours was associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Background Fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) are associated with better health outcomes but less is known about their joint associations with the risk of mortality. We examined the joint associations of FVC and LTPA with premature mortality among midlife and ageing municipal employees, adjusting for key covariates. Methods Survey data collected in 2000–2002 among 40–60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, were linked with complete register data on mortality from Statistics Finland (4961 women, 1373 men; response rate 67%; written consent for register linkages 74%). FVC was dichotomised into daily or non-daily, and LTPA into high (>14 MET-hours/week including vigorous exercise) or low. Covariates included age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic position, binge drinking, smoking and self-rated health. Cox regression models were fitted. The follow-up continued until the event of death or the end of 2015. Results A total of 281 deaths occurred during the follow-up. The mortality rate was 7.1% in men and 3.7% in women. A gender interaction was found, showing differing associations for women and men. Men with both daily FVC and high LTPA had the lowest mortality risk (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.63) after adjusting for covariates. Men with high LTPA and non-daily FVC also had a lower mortality risk (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29-0.90) compared to those with non-daily FVC and low LTPA. Women with daily FVC and high LTPA had a lower mortality risk initially, but after adjusting for covariates no statistically significant associations were observed. Conclusions The joint associations of FVC and LTPA with premature mortality differed between women and men. This could be related to gender differences in e.g. the causes of death, and further studies are needed to clarify this. Increasing FVC and LTPA might prevent premature mortality among men. Key messages Fruit and vegetable consumption jointly with physical activity decreased the risk of premature mortality among men only. Further studies are needed to clarify the gender difference which could be related to for example death causes.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether hospitalisation is associated with increased risk of disability retirement differently across four occupational classes. Methods: 170,510 employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland were followed from 1990 to 2013 using national registers for hospitalisations and disability retirement. Increases in the risk of disability retirement after hospitalisation for any cause, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, malignant neoplasms, respiratory diseases and injuries were assessed across four occupational classes: professional, semi-professional, routine non-manual and manual, using competing risks models. Results: In general, hospitalisation showed a slightly more increased risk of disability retirement in the lower ranking occupational classes. Hospitalisation among women for mental disorders showed a more increased risk in the professional class (hazard ratio 14.73, 95% confidence interval 12.67 to 17.12) compared to the routine manual class (hazard ratio 7.27, 95% confidence interval 6.60 to 8.02). Occupational class differences were similar for men and women. The risk of disability retirement among women increased most in the routine non-manual class after hospitalisation for musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, and most in the professional class after hospitalisation for cardiovascular diseases. The corresponding risks among men increased most in the two lowest ranking classes after hospitalisation for injuries. Conclusions: Ill-health as measured by hospitalisation affected disability retirement in four occupational classes differently, and the effects also varied by the diagnostic group of hospitalisation. Interventions that tackle work disability should consider the impact of ill-health on functioning while taking into account working conditions in each occupational class.

Aims: The aim was to examine whether changes in alcohol drinking are associated with sickness absence. Methods: Repeated postal questionnaires on alcohol drinking were conducted among employees of the City of Helsinki in 2000–2 and 2007 to assess changes in drinking habits between these two time points. Data on the number of self-certified and medically confirmed sickness absences were derived from the employer’s register. Sickness absences were followed from 2007 until the end of 2010 among employees participating in both questionnaire surveys. The study includes 3252 female and 682 male employees 40–60 years old at baseline. Poisson regression was used in the data analysis and population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated. Results: Alcohol drinking was associated especially with self-certified sickness absence. Rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for increasing weekly average drinking were 1.38, 1.18–1.62 among women and 1.58, 1.18–2.12 among men. Also stable problem drinking (for women 1.39, 1.26–1.54, for men 1.44, 1.10–1.87) and among women stable heavy drinking (1.53, 1.20–1.94) increased self-certified sickness absence. There were associations between alcohol drinking and medically confirmed sickness absence but these were mainly explained by health and health behaviours. Also, a decrease in weekly average drinking was associated with sickness absence among women whereas among men former problem drinking increased sickness absence. According to the PAF values, problem drinking had a stronger contribution to sickness absence than weekly average drinking. Conclusions: Alcohol drinking is particularly associated with self-certified sickness absence. Reducing adverse drinking habits is likely to prevent sickness absence.

Objectives Alcohol drinking is associated with ill health but less is known about its contribution to overall functioning. We aimed to examine whether alcohol drinking predicts self-reported mental and physical functioning 5-7 years later. Design A prospective cohort study. Setting Helsinki, Finland. Participants 40-year-old to 60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki (5301 women and 1230 men) who participated in a postal survey in 2000-2002 and a follow-up survey in 2007. Primary and secondary outcome measures Mental and physical functioning measured by the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Results Alcohol drinking was differently associated with mental and physical functioning. Heavy average drinking, binge drinking and problem drinking were all associated with subsequent poor mental functioning except for heavy average drinking among men, whereas only problem drinking was associated with poor physical functioning. Also, non-drinking was associated with poor physical functioning. Problem drinking was the drinking habit showing most widespread and strongest associations with health functioning. The associations between problem drinking and poor mental functioning and with poor physical functioning among women remained after adjusting for baseline mental functioning, sociodemographic factors, working conditions and other health behaviours. Conclusions Alcohol drinking is associated especially with poor mental functioning. Problem drinking was the drinking habit strongest associated with poor health functioning. The results call for early recognition and prevention of alcohol problems in order to improve health functioning among employees.

AIMS: To examine associations between drinking habits and disability retirement, and to find out whether the associations differ between all-cause disability retirement and the main causes of disability retirement, i.e. musculoskeletal diseases and mental disorders. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study with a mean follow-up time of 8.0 years. SETTING: Middle-aged employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. PARTICIPANTS: 6275 municipal employees (78% women) who were 40-60 years old at baseline. MEASUREMENTS: Data on drinking habits i.e. quantity and frequency of drinking, binge drinking and problem drinking were derived from the baseline questionnaire. The data on disability retirement and its diagnoses came from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. The analyses were made using Cox regression analysis. FINDINGS: Heavy average and frequent drinking were not associated with all-cause disability retirement, but increased the risk of disability retirement due to mental disorders even after adjusting for all covariates (Hazard ratios [HR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI] 2.54 (1.26-5.12) and 2.10 (1.23-3.61) respectively). Binge and problem drinking were both associated with all-cause disability retirement in the base models adjusted for age, gender and marital status. Problem drinking more than doubled the risk of disability retirement due to mental disorders even after all adjustments (HR 2.17, CI 1.53-3.08). Non-drinkers had an increased risk for disability retirement due to all, mental and musculoskeletal diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse drinking habits may contribute to disability retirement among the middle-aged working population. Tackling unhealthy drinking habits may lessen the likelihood of early retirement due to poor mental health. Language: en

Aims: The main aim was to examine whether drinking habits including average, binge and problem drinking are associated with self-certified and medically confirmed sickness absence among middle-aged municipal employees. Another aim was to examine whether psychosocial and physical working conditions and work arrangements explain these associations. Methods: The data on drinking habits and working conditions of 5,119 female and 1,390 male middle-aged employees of the City of Helsinki was obtained from postal questionnaires collected in 2000—2002. The data on sickness absence (2000—2005) were derived from the employer’s registers. Poisson regression analysis with self-certified (1—3 days) and medically confirmed (over 3 days) sickness absence spells as outcomes was used in performing the analyses. Results: Heavy average, binge and problem drinking were all associated with an increase in self-certified sickness absence. Both non-drinkers and heavy drinkers had excess medically confirmed sickness absence compared to moderate drinkers. Problem drinking and among women also binge drinking were associated with medically confirmed sickness absence. Psychosocial working conditions slightly attenuated the association of drinking habits and sickness absence mainly among men. Physical working conditions and work arrangements slightly explained medically confirmed sickness absence among male problem drinkers. Conclusions: All studied drinking habits were associated with both self-certified and medically confirmed sickness absence. Thus, a decrease in unhealthy drinking habits among employees is likely to prevent sickness absence. The effects of working conditions were small but psychosocial working conditions slightly explained the associations between drinking habits and sickness absence mainly among men.

Background Mental health problems are a major concern among ageing employees causing for example reduced work ability and early retirement. Alcohol drinking has increased during the past few decades and might be behind poor mental health. The study aimed to examine whether alcohol drinking is associated with mental health functioning five to seven years later among ageing municipal employees. Methods Baseline data were collected in 2000-02 among 40-60-year-old employees of …

To examine associations between drinking habits and disability retirement, and to determine whether the associations differ between all-cause disability retirement and the main causes of disability retirement, i.e. musculoskeletal diseases and mental disorders.A prospective cohort study with a mean follow-up time of 8 years.Middle-aged employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland.A total of 6275 municipal employees (78% women) who were 40-60 years old at baseline.Data on drinking habits, i.e. quantity and frequency of drinking, binge drinking and problem drinking, were derived from the baseline questionnaire. The data on disability retirement and its diagnoses came from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. The analyses were made using Cox regression analysis.Heavy average and frequent drinking were not associated with all-cause disability retirement, but increased the risk of disability retirement due to mental disorders even after adjusting for all covariates [hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.54 (1.26-5.12) and 2.10 (1.23-3.61), respectively]. Binge and problem drinking were both associated with all-cause disability retirement in the base models adjusted for age, gender and marital status. Problem drinking more than doubled the risk of disability retirement due to mental disorders even after all adjustments (HR 2.17, CI 1.53-3.08). Non-drinkers had an increased risk for disability retirement due to all mental and musculoskeletal diagnoses.Adverse drinking habits may contribute to disability retirement among the middle-aged working population. Tackling unhealthy drinking habits may lessen the likelihood of early retirement due to poor mental health.