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Chronic diseases and functional limitations among older construction workers in the United States: a 10-year
Xiuwen Sue Dong1, Xuanwen Wang, Christina Daw
1CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. SDong@cpwr.com
Objectives:
To examine the health status of older construction workers in the United States, and how occupation and the aging process affect health in workers' later years.
Methods:
We analyzed six waves (1998 to 2008) of the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal survey of US residents age 50+. The study sample totaled 7200 male workers (510 in construction trades) in the baseline. Multiple logistic regression and paired t tests were conducted to compare health outcomes across occupations and within individuals over time.
Results:
Compared with white-collar workers, construction workers had increased odds of arthritis, back problems, chronic lung disease, functional limitations, work disability, and work-related injuries after controlling for possible confounders.
Conclusions:
Safety and health interventions, as well as retirement and pension policy, should meet the needs of older construction workers, who face increasingly chronic health conditions over time.
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