[Early retirement among the 1914 population in Glostrup. Significance of social and health problems in choosing early retirement].

In the population investigation in Glostrup, the 1914 population was examined at the ages of 50, 60 and 67 years. A total of 141 participants at the 67 years examination (106 men and 35 women) stated that they had chosen early retirement prior to transition to old age pensions. The social and health circumstances of these early retirees at the ages of 50 and 60 years are compared with the circumstances in the 243 persons in the cohort (154 men and 89 women) who remained occupationally active until the age for old age pensioning. In the group of early retirees, unskilled men predominated. Out of those who found the occupational environment stressful at the ages of 50 or 60 years, a majority subsequently chose early retirement. Significantly more of the men with abnormal findings in the heart and lungs at the health examinations subsequently chose early retirement. Where the remaining health variables were concerned, no connection could be found with subsequent choice of early retirement. Where the health conditions at the age of 60 years were concerned, a tendency for more frequent choice of early retirement was observed in men with a series of abnormal conditions in the lungs and intestinal tract but no distinct tendency was observed in women. Where both sexes were concerned, an increasing tendency to subsequent choice of early retirement was observed with increasing incidense of cardiovascular risk factors at the age of 60 years. Data concerning low back pain at the age of 60 years did not reveal any connection with subsequent choice of early retirement but may suggest early elimination of persons with low back pain.