Common mental and musculoskeletal disorders as predictors of disability retirement among Finns

BackgroundThe contribution of common mental disorders (CMD) co-occurring with chronic musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) to disability retirement is not known.MethodsA nationally representative sample (the Health 2000 survey) comprised 3943 occupationally active Finns aged 30–63. MSD and other chronic disorders were assessed by a physician in a standardized clinical examination, and CMD using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Disability pension data for 2000−2011 was retrieved from national pension records. Cox regression was used with censoring for death and pension other than that for disability. Covariate information was based on an interview.ResultsThe baseline prevalence of CMD was 9.4% and of MSD 31.1%. CMD co-occurred with MSD in 3.3% of participants. The risks inflicted by CMD and MSD were additive. Thirty-eight per cent of the co-morbid subjects, 18% of those with CMD and 19% of those with MSD retired prematurely during the average follow-up of 8.6 years. Compared with those with neither type of disorder, the hazard ratio (HR) for disability pension was 2.4 (95% CI 1.7–2.7) for CMD only, 2.2 (1.8–2.7) for MSD only, and 4.1 (2.9–5.7) for the occurrence of both, allowing for age, gender, other chronic disorders, working conditions, and socio-economic and lifestyle factors. No synergistic or antagonistic interactive effects were observed.LimitationsThe determinants were measured only once and we had no information on incident disorders during the follow-up.ConclusionsIt is important to identify subjects with both mental and musculoskeletal complaints in order to efficiently support their work ability.