PT Journal AU Laaksonen, M Gould, R TI Regional differences in disability retirement: explaining between-county differences in Finland SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 11VL PY 2013 BP 609 EP 617 IS 6 DI 10.5271/sjweh.3373 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3373 DE area; between-county difference; cardiovascular disease; disability; disability retirement; Finland; mental disorder; municipality characteristic; musculoskeletal disease; prospective cohort study; regional difference; work-related factor SN 0355-3140 AB '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'This study aimed to examine between-county differences in disability retirement due to main diagnosis groups and explain these differences by individual-level demographic and work-related factors and municipality-level characteristics.

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METHODS ': 'A 20% random sample of the Finnish social insured population aged 25-62 years at the end of 2006 was followed for disability retirement until the end of 2011. Individual-level demographic and work-related covariates were derived from the registers of the Finnish Centre for Pensions and complemented by municipality-level covariates from the national SotkaNet databank. Standardized disability retirement rates were calculated and logistic regression analysis was used to examine between-county differences during the 5-year follow-up.

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RESULTS ': 'In the county with the highest incidence, disability retirement was nearly twice as common as in the county with the lowest incidence. The between-county differences were larger in disability retirement due to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases than other causes. Adjusting for demographic and work-related characteristics explained a third of the differences. Further adjustment for municipal characteristics explained up to 60% of the differences. However, in regions of Northern and Eastern Finland with the highest incidence of disability retirement, 20–30% excess incidence remained even after all adjustments.

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CONCLUSIONS ': 'Large differences exist in disability retirement between Finnish counties. Disability retirement due to musculoskeletal diseases has the highest impact on the overall differences. Demographic structure and work-related characteristics but also municipality-level characteristics contribute to these differences.

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