The relationship between chronic health conditions and employment transitions among survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS).

Abstract

10051 Background: Chronic health conditions are prevalent among adult survivors of childhood cancer. The impact of health on maintaining full-time (FT) employment, a common indicator of socioeconomic independence, has not been studied in this population. Methods: Self-reported employment status (FT, part-time [PT], unemployed [any reason], not in labor force) was assessed at two timepoints (2002-04 [T1] and 2015-16 [T2]) in adult (≥25y old) survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed between 1970-86. Sex-stratified Poisson regression, adjusted for race and ages at diagnosis and T2, was used to study associations between timing and severity of chronic health conditions (graded per the CTCAE v4.03) and transitions from FT to PT or unemployed. Results: Survivors employed FT at T1 (males=1712, median age [min-max]: 34y [25-53]; females=1337, 33y [25-53]) who reported employment status at T2 were included. At T2 (median time from T1 11.5y [9.4-13.8]), 83% males and 70% females remained employed FT, but 4% and 10% transitioned to PT, and 11% and 12% to unemployed (additional 2% and 8% left the labor force), respectively. Male and female survivors with grade 2 or 3-4 neurologic conditions acquired before T1 or between T1-T2 were at a higher risk of moving from FT to PT or unemployed compared to those with grade 0-1 conditions. Males and females with grade 3-4 respiratory conditions prior to T1 and cardiac and musculoskeletal conditions acquired between T1-T2 were also at higher risk for moving to PT or unemployed (Table). Additional predictors for males included grade 2 vision (before T1 RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.3; between T1-T2 RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7) and endocrine (before T1 RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.9; between T1-T2 RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.3) conditions. Conclusions: A substantial portion of adult survivors of childhood cancer with health conditions of varying severity leave FT employment. Increased awareness of all stakeholders may facilitate access to clinical counseling and occupational provisions for flexible and supportive work accommodations to reduce work-related barriers for childhood cancer survivors. [Table: see text]