title: Age-related trajectories of physical functioning in work and retirement: the role of sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loss of physical functioning is an early marker of declining health in older people. The objective of this study was to examine the age-related trajectories of physical functioning among those in full-time work and retirement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the Health and Retirement Study, participants who were working full-time or were in full-time retirement and 65-85 years of age during the follow-up period from 1992 to 2010 were included (n=17 844, n of observations from repeated measures in full-time work 5891 and in retirement 57 117). Details of physical functioning were asked about at all study phases and 10 items related to mobility and activities of daily living were summed to obtain a physical functioning score (0-10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of physical functioning difficulties increased every 10 years by 0.17 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.29) when in full-time work and by 0.46 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.50) in retirement after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, total wealth, Body Mass Index, smoking, physical activity and number of diseases. Factors that were associated with a significantly greater increase in number of physical functioning difficulties in full-time work and retirement include lifestyle-related risks and chronic conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical functioning declines faster in retirement than in full-time work in employees aged 65 years or older and the difference is not explained by absence of chronic diseases and lifestyle-related risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, , Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stenholm
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westerlund
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pentti
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivimäki
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vahtera
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Epidemiology of Ageing; Functioning and Disability; Occupational Health