title: Smoking and subsequent risk of early retirement due to permanent disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking is the most important single preventable cause of a variety of common diseases, and a considerable share of premature death is attributable to smoking. Although the effects of smoking on morbidity and mortality are widely recognized, little is known about the impact of smoking on early retirement due to chronic disease. The objective of the study is to determine the effects of smoking behaviour on early retirement due to permanent disability in a large sample of the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up study based on data from three longitudinal population studies conducted in the Copenhagen area. The final study population comprised 9,053 persons, 5,623 men and 3,430 women. Endpoint was grant of disability pension in the period 1980-1985. Baseline information was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Information about disability pensions was obtained from Statistics Denmark. Data analysis was performed by univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoking was found to be strongly associated with the risk of being granted a disability pension after adjustment for various confounders. The risk increased with daily consumption reaching a maximum odds ratio of 5.66 (1.88-17.00) and 5.61 (2.11-14.92) in heavily smoking men and women, respectively, who were below age 60.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers are at considerably higher risk of early retirement due to chronic disease. In addition to the burden of disease, this leads to social and economic problems for the individual and has a significant economic impact on society.
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre at the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Kommunehospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. lloh@glostruphosp.kbhamt.dk
authors.forename: Lise Lotte N
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Husemoen
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osler
authors.forename: Nina S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Godtfredsen
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prescott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012179:Retirement; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires