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Objectives The aim of this work was to assess the work ability, health status, disability and quality of life of working people of pre-retirement and retirement age, as well as to analyze factors affecting the ability to perform work in older age. Material and Methods A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in the Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships, Poland, in randomly selected workplaces of intellectual nature. It was carried out by means of direct interviews in the workplace of the surveyed people, using the Work Ability Index , a questionnaire based on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 , the WHO Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire , the Geriatric Depression Scale , and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The criteria for inclusion were: age 55–75 years and informed consent to participate in the study. Overall, 201 complete questionnaires were included in the analysis. Demographic data is presented using descriptive statistics measurements. The logistic regression model was used to identify factors related to work ability. Results The vast majority (69.66%) of employees performing intellectual work had moderate or poor work ability. The average level of general disability in the studied group was mild (20.65), and the quality of life was quite good (64.73). A significant problem among the surveyed people was a quite high average level of pain (VAS = 3.99), the occurrence of depression (73.63%), as well as musculoskeletal (64.18%) and cardiovascular diseases (52.24%). The most important factor contributing to a better work ability was the adaptation of the workplace to functional and healthrelated needs (OR = 7.79). Psychological well-being (OR = 1.12), cognitive performance (OR = 0.97) and a smaller number of chronic diseases (OR = 0.58) were also important factors. Conclusions Preparation of elderly people for professional activity should be conducted in 2 different ways, i.e., by means of education and implementation of an active, healthy lifestyle, and increasing control over one’s own health and factors determining it, as well as by the proper organization of working space, and quick access to treatment and rehabilitation, especially in the case of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(1):69–85

Objectives: The aim of this work was to assess the work ability, health status, disability and quality of life of working people of pre-retirement and retirement age, as well as to analyze factors affecting the ability to perform work in older age. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in the Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships, Poland, in randomly selected workplaces of intellectual nature. It was carried out by means of direct interviews in the workplace of the surveyed people, using the Work Ability Index, a questionnaire based on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, the WHO Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The criteria for inclusion were: age 55-75 years and informed consent to participate in the study. Overall, 201 complete questionnaires were included in the analysis. Demographic data is presented using descriptive statistics measurements. The logistic regression model was used to identify factors related to work ability. Results: The vast majority (69.66%) of employees performing intellectual work had moderate or poor work ability. The average level of general disability in the studied group was mild (20.65), and the quality of life was quite good (64.73). A significant problem among the surveyed people was a quite high average level of pain (VAS = 3.99), the occurrence of depression (73.63%), as well as musculoskeletal (64.18%) and cardiovascular diseases (52.24%). The most important factor contributing to a better work ability was the adaptation of the workplace to functional and healthrelated needs (OR = 7.79). Psychological well-being (OR = 1.12), cognitive performance (OR = 0.97) and a smaller number of chronic diseases (OR = 0.58) were also important factors. Conclusions: Preparation of elderly people for professional activity should be conducted in 2 different ways, i.e., by means of education and implementation of an active, healthy lifestyle, and increasing control over one's own health and factors determining it, as well as by the proper organization of working space, and quick access to treatment and rehabilitation, especially in the case of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: It is known that the increase in chronological age itself is a serious risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, especially in men. In men over the age of 50 who have several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the risk of starting coronary heart disease or hypertension is very high. Therefore, it becomes necessary to develop affordable and safe programs to minimize this danger, based on the physical recovery of men older than 50 years, through the use of dosed and acceptable physical activity complexes for this age. Their effectiveness will be based on the possibilities of regular physical exertion in terms of toning up the cardiovascular system, enhancing metabolism and increasing the general endurance of the body. The study showed that the use of a set of physical activities for 1 year, including classes on the simulators “SPIRIT Medical Systems MU100 vertical ergometer” and “Finnlo”, with the addition of classes at “Finnlo MAXIMUM-S” from the second half of the year provides a more pronounced overall health the effect and greater increase in the level of physical fitness than the annual physical activity, including classes on the “Finnlo MAXIMUM-S elliptic” trainers with the addition of physical training in the second half of the year on the “ SPIRIT Medical Systems MU100 vertical ergometer”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]