Unemployment and prostate cancer mortality in the OECD, 1990–2009

Abstract

The global economic downturn has been associated with increased unemployment in many countries. Insights into the impact of unemployment on specific health conditions remain limited. We determined the association between unemployment and prostate cancer mortality in members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We used multivariate regression analysis to assess the association between changes in unemployment and prostate cancer mortality in OECD member states between 1990 and 2009. Country-specific differences in healthcare infrastructure, population structure, and population size were controlled for and lag analyses conducted. Several robustness checks were also performed. Time trend analyses were used to predict the number of excess deaths from prostate cancer following the 2008 global recession. Between 1990 and 2009, a 1% rise in unemployment was associated with an increase in prostate cancer mortality. Lag analysis showed a continued increase in mortality years after unemployment rises. The association between unemployment and prostate cancer mortality remained significant in robustness checks with 46 controls. Eight of the 21 OECD countries for which a time trend analysis was conducted, exhibited an estimated excess of prostate cancer deaths in at least one of 2008, 2009, or 2010, based on 2000–2007 trends. Rises in unemployment are associated with significant increases in prostate cancer mortality. Initiatives that bolster employment may help to minimise prostate cancer mortality during times of economic hardship.

The effect of neighborhood social environment on prostate cancer development in black and white men at high risk for prostate cancer

“…More specifically, both high and low nSES have been reported to have associations with poor PCa outcomes [22,39,56,67,68]. Low SES is often associated with increased PCa stage or grade and increased mortality [22,39,56,69,70]; whereas studies of PCa incidence have found associations with higher SES, partially attributed to increases in PCa screening in men from higher socioeconomic groups [67,68]. Similarly, in this study, we also found significant associations between time to PCa diagnosis and low nSES variables.…”

“…Although numbers were small, men with high exposure to these low nSES variables also accounted for the majority of advanced PCa diagnoses (12 of the 14 Gleason grade �7 diagnoses). Specifically, we found that in Black men without a PCa family history, neighborhoods with a higher percentage of unemployment were associated with shorter time to PCa diagnosis [69,70]. In White men with a PCa family history, neighborhoods with a higher percentage of men with low incomes were also associated with shorter time to PCa diagnosis [22].…”

Musculoskeletal pain and re-employment among unemployed job seekers: a three-year follow-up study

“…Unemployment has a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of individuals [ 1 ], their spouses [ 2 ], their children [ 3 , 4 ], and the public at large [ 5 – 7 ]. Prospective studies have shown that re-employment could improve the health of the unemployed.…”

Economic Recession and the Risk of Cancer: A Cohort Study From Eastern Finland

“…5,7 Some studies have found an increase in cancer mortality among men and women since the onset of recession. [8][9][10][11][12][13] Some, in contrast, have reported a decline in cancer mortality 14 and lower cancer incidence, during recession. 15,16 To our best knowledge, there are no prior studies examining possible longerterm impacts of recessions on subsequent cancer incidence.…”