title: The Impact of Diagnosis on Job Retention: A Danish Registry-Based Cohort Study.
abstract: Background. In 1998, Denmark introduced the flex job scheme to ensure employment of people with a permanent reduced work capacity. This study investigated the association between select diagnoses and the risk of disability pension among persons eligible for the scheme. Methods. Using the national DREAM database we identified all persons eligible for the flex job scheme from 2001 to 2008. This information piece was linked to the hospital discharge registry. Selected participants were followed for 5 years. Results. From the 72,629 persons identified, our study included 329 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 10,120 patients with spine disorders, 2179 patients with ischemic heart disease, and 1765 patients with functional disorders. A reduced risk of disability pension was found in the group with rheumatoid arthritis (hazard ratio = 0.69 (0.53-0.90)) compared to the group with spine disorders. No differences were found when comparing ischemic heart disease and functional disorders. Employment during the first 3 months of the flex job scheme increased the degree of employment for all groups. Conclusion. Differences in the risk of disability pension were identified only in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This study demonstrates the importance of obtaining employment immediately after allocation to the flex job scheme, regardless of diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berg Johansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark ; Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, 9920 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fonager