Effect of a new cancer diagnosis on labor force participation (LFP): Has there been a change over time?

Abstract

e18004 Background: Health shocks, such as a new cancer diagnosis, have been shown to reduce LFP in working adults. Over the past decade, there have economic swings, retirement age has increased, while newer cancer treatments may be less toxic or disabling. We update prior estimates of LFP responses, and assess whether patterns changed over time. Methods: Adults from the 1998-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who were aged 51+ yrs and working in 1998 or at HRS cohort entry in 2004 or 2010, were followed until their LFP decreased. Decreased LFP was defined as a switch from fulltime work, or a 10 hour or 25% decrease in hours worked. We created time varying indicators for health conditions (cancer, heart condition, lung disease, stroke) newly reported or worsened since the prior wave, condition history, demographics, net worth, and insurance coverage. We estimated discrete Cox proportional hazard survival models for the full sample, and with person-wave observations stratified pre/post 2008. Results: Among 13,918 working adults, mean age was 56 years, 45% women; health history included 5.3% cancer, 9.5% heart condition, 4.1% lung disease, 1.5% stroke; new health conditions included 2.9% cancer, 4.7% heart, 2.3% lung, and 1.3% stroke. Newly reported or worsened cancer, heart and lung disease were associated with similar risk of LFP decrease (see table). Prior history of lung disease, diabetes, arthritis and psychiatric disorders were associated with LFP decreases, but cancer was not. There was no difference in the effect of a new condition on LFP pre/post 2008. Conclusions: Many working adults reported preexisting health conditions. New diagnoses or worsening of cancer and other serious health conditions were associated with LFP reductions, although a longer term history of cancer was not associated with LFP changes. [Table: see text]