Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF): a new prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Demographic trends in developed countries have prompted governmental policies aimed at extending working lives. However, working beyond the traditional retirement age may not be feasible for those with major health problems of ageing, and depending on occupational and personal circumstances, might be either good or bad for health. To address these uncertainties, we have initiated a new longitudinal study.


METHODS
We recruited some 8000 adults aged 50-64 years from 24 British general practices contributing to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Participants have completed questionnaires about their work and home circumstances at baseline, and will do so regularly over follow-up, initially for a 5-year period. With their permission, we will access their primary care health records via the CPRD. The inter-relation of changes in employment (with reasons) and changes in health (e.g., major new illnesses, new treatments, mortality) will be examined.


CONCLUSIONS
CPRD linkage allows cost-effective frequent capture of detailed objective health data with which to examine the impact of health on work at older ages and of work on health. Findings will inform government policy and also the design of work for older people and the measures needed to support employment in later life, especially for those with health limitations.
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. ktp@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|ARUK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. ktp@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
Keith T
KT
Palmer
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. kwb@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|ARUK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. kwb@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
Karen
K
Walker-Bone
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. ech@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|ARUK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. ech@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
E Clare
EC
Harris
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. chl@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|ARUK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. chl@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
Cathy
C
Linaker
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. sd@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|ARUK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. sd@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
Stefania
S
D'Angelo
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. aas@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|Centre for Research on Ageing, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. aas@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|Academic Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. aas@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK. aas@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care: Wessex, Southampton, UK. aas@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|Newcastle University Institute for Ageing and Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. aas@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
Avan Aihie
AA
Sayer
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. crg@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
Catharine R
CR
Gale
Centre for Research on Ageing, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. Maria.evandrou@soton.ac.uk.
Maria
M
Evandrou
Farr Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. tjeerd.vanstaa@manchester.ac.uk.
Tjeerd
T
van Staa
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. cc@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|ARUK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. cc@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
Cyrus
C
Cooper
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. dnc@mrc.soton.ac.uk.|ARUK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. dnc@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
David
D
Coggon
D000375:Aging; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D012179:Retirement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014937:Work