Depressive symptoms and early retirement intentions among Danish eldercare workers:Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses

BACKGROUND: Depression increases the risk of disability pension and represents a health related strain that pushes people out of the labour market. Although early voluntary retirement is an important alternative to disability pension, few studies have examined whether depressive symptoms incur early voluntary retirement. This study examined whether depressive symptoms and changes in depressive symptoms over time were associated with early retirement intentions. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional (n = 4041) and a prospective (n = 2444) population from a longitudinal study on employees of the Danish eldercare sector. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Major Depression Inventory and the impact of different levels of depressive symptoms (severe, moderately severe, moderate, mild and none) and changes in depressive symptoms (worsened, improved, unaffected) on early retirement intentions were analysed with multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional analysis all levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with retirement intentions before the age of 62 years. Similar associations were found prospectively. Depressive symptoms and worsened depressive symptoms in the two year period from baseline to follow-up were also significantly associated with early retirement intentions before age 62. The prospective associations lost statistical significance when controlling for early retirement intentions at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The whole spectrum of depressive symptoms represents a health related strain that can incur intentions to retire early by early voluntary retirement. In order to change the intentions to retire early, the work related consequences of depressive symptoms should be addressed as early in the treatment process as possible

Insulin Pump Treatment in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in the Capital Region of Denmark:Design and Cohort Characteristics of the Steno Tech Survey

INTRODUCTION: Insulin pump therapy can improve quality of life and glycaemic outcomes for many people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The multidimensional Steno Tech Survey study aims to investigate why some insulin pump users do not achieve treatment goals. In this article, we present the study design and analyse differences in population characteristics between responders and non-responders. METHODS: In June 2020, all 1591 insulin pump users (≥ 18 years) in the Capital Region of Denmark were invited to participate in an online questionnaire that evaluated several dimensions of insulin pump self-management and psychosocial health. Demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics, including age, sex and HbA1c, of the cohort were identified via national registries. Predictors of questionnaire response/non-response were explored with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In the full study population, 58% were female, median age was 42 years and median HbA1c was 58 mmol/mol (7.5%); 30% had HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (7.0%). In total, 770 individuals (48%) responded to the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis showed that 50+ years of age (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4–3.8), female sex (OR = 1.3, CI: 1.02–1.6), being married (OR = 1.8, CI: 1.3–2.4) and having long higher education (OR = 1.6, CI: 1.004–2.5) were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of responding to the survey; the opposite was found for HbA1c from 64 to < 75 mmol (8.0–9.0%) (OR = 0.6, CI: 0.4–0.8) and HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9.0%) (OR = 0.2, CI: 0.1–0.3). CONCLUSIONS: The established Steno Tech cohort enables future analysis of a range of psychosocial and behavioural aspects of insulin pump self-management. Interpretation and generalization of findings should consider observed differences between responders and non-responders. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13300-021-01181-0