title: The Relationship between Age and Work Injury in British Columbia: Examining Differences across Time and Nature of Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between age and the lost-time workers' compensation claims in British Columbia, Canada, over three time periods (1997-98, 2001-02 and 2005-06). We examined if the relationship between age and risk of lost-time claims is consistent over time and for different nature of injury categories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analyses of lost-time workers' compensation claims combined with estimates of person-years of exposure generated from the Canadian Labour Force Survey were performed. Analyses examined the relationship between age and claim risk using sex-stratified regression models, adjusting for time period, occupational characteristics and whether the claimant was employed in the goods or service industry. Multiplicative interaction terms were used to examine if the relationship between age and lost-time claim risk changed over time. Seven separate regression models were generated to explore the variation in the effect of age across nature of injury groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed important differences in the relationship between age and risk of injury depending on the nature of injury examined. A negative relationship was observed between age and lost-time claims for open wounds, while a positive relationship was observed for traumatic injuries to bones, nerves and the spinal cord. We found no evidence that the relationship between age and risk of lost-time claims changed over time periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between age and risk of lost-time claims depends on the nature of injury under investigation. We found no evidence that the relationship between age and overall lost-time claim risk has changed over time in British Columbia.
authors: Institute for Work and Health, Canada. peter.smith@monash.edu
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Smith
authors: Amber
authors: A
authors: Bielecky
authors: Cam
authors: C
authors: Mustard
authors: Dorcas
authors: D
authors: Beaton
authors: Sheilah
authors: S
authors: Hogg-Johnson
authors: Selahadin
authors: S
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Mieke
authors: M
authors: Koehoorn
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: McLeod
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Saunders
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Scott-Marshall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult