Loss of Working Life Years Due to Mortality, Sickness Absence, or Ill-health Retirement: A Comprehensive Approach to Estimating Disease Burden in the Workplace

Abstract

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Indicators and determinants of the years of working life lost: a narrative review

“…Only two studies included three [17] or several [18] exit routes from the labour market in their calculation of YWLL. Disability retirement is a common cause of YWLL [17][18].…”

“…Several different indicators to estimate the length of working life [4,16] or the number of working years lost [17][18][19] have been proposed. However, most of the original studies identified the determinants of a single exit route from employment, such as sickness absence, disability retirement, early retirement, unemployment, non-employment or premature death.…”

“…However, most of the original studies identified the determinants of a single exit route from employment, such as sickness absence, disability retirement, early retirement, unemployment, non-employment or premature death. Only a few studies [17,18] combined several of these exit routes and calculated summary measures, such as working life expectancy (WLE) or the number of working years lost, which provide policymakers with a more tangible and comprehensive picture regarding the length of working life and its determinants. For example, measures of the years of working life lost (YWLL) give more weight to death or disability retirement at younger ages [17,20].…”

“…Only a few studies [17,18] combined several of these exit routes and calculated summary measures, such as working life expectancy (WLE) or the number of working years lost, which provide policymakers with a more tangible and comprehensive picture regarding the length of working life and its determinants. For example, measures of the years of working life lost (YWLL) give more weight to death or disability retirement at younger ages [17,20]. Individuals with mental disorders are generally granted disability retirement at younger ages [17,21], thus, disability retirement due to mental disorders can cause a higher number of working years lost than disability retirement due to musculoskeletal disorders or any other somatic disorder [17,21].…”

“…For example, measures of the years of working life lost (YWLL) give more weight to death or disability retirement at younger ages [17,20]. Individuals with mental disorders are generally granted disability retirement at younger ages [17,21], thus, disability retirement due to mental disorders can cause a higher number of working years lost than disability retirement due to musculoskeletal disorders or any other somatic disorder [17,21]. Appropriate measurements of length of working life and YWLL, and understanding their determinants are crucial for planning effective policy measures to extend working life.…”