Seitsamo J, Klockars M
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997;23 Suppl 1:27-35.
The study explored changes in the health of aging workers from 1981 to 1992.
Municipal workers [age 55 to 69 (mean 61.6) years in 1992] who filled out questionnaires in both 1981 and 1992 (N = 4534) were studied. The changes in disease prevalence and perceived health were tested with Pearson's chi-square independence test. Improvement and decline in perceived health were analyzed by logistic regression models.
In 1992, significantly more diseases were reported than in 1981; the musculoskeletal disease rate rose from 38% in 1981 to 53% in 1992 for the women and from 35% to 49% for the men and the cardiovascular disease rate rose from 15% in 1981 to 28% in 1992 for the women and from 19% to 37% for the men. The age differences diminished during the follow-up. Self-assessed health improved in all the age groups among both those still working in 1992 and those retired. The association between illnesses and perceived health changed during the follow-up, 11% of those with no diseases experiencing their health as good in 1981 and over 40% in 1992. The most important factors explaining the improvement appeared to be a low number of physical illnesses and the absence of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease. Nonphysical work, frequent physical exercise, and satisfaction with life situation were also significant contributors to good perceived health.
The improvement in perceived health during the follow-up may mean that older people have lower criteria for good perceived health than younger people do. The associations between self-assessed health and the presence of disease need further study.
本研究探讨了1981年至1992年老年工人健康状况的变化。
对1981年和1992年都填写了问卷的市政工人（1992年年龄为55至69岁，平均61.6岁）进行研究（N = 4534）。疾病患病率和自我感知健康状况的变化采用Pearson卡方独立性检验进行检验。自我感知健康状况的改善和下降通过逻辑回归模型进行分析。
1992年报告的疾病明显多于1981年；女性肌肉骨骼疾病患病率从1981年的38%升至1992年的53%，男性从35%升至49%；女性心血管疾病患病率从1981年的15%升至1992年的28%，男性从19%升至37%。随访期间年龄差异缩小。1992年仍在职和已退休的所有年龄组自我评估的健康状况均有所改善。随访期间疾病与自我感知健康之间的关联发生了变化，1981年无疾病的人中11%认为自己健康状况良好，1992年这一比例超过40%。解释这种改善的最重要因素似乎是身体疾病数量少以及没有心血管和肌肉骨骼疾病。非体力工作、经常进行体育锻炼以及对生活状况的满意度也是自我感知健康良好的重要因素。
随访期间自我感知健康状况的改善可能意味着老年人对良好自我感知健康的标准低于年轻人。自我评估健康状况与疾病存在之间的关联需要进一步研究。
