Hospital admissions after transition into unemployment

Summary

¶Objective:It was examined whether the rate of hospital admissions change after transition into unemployment.¶Methods:Data from a German statutory health insurance comprising 105554 individuals (70.9% men, 29.1% women) with documented employment periods were used. Unemployment periods were divided into three intervals: up to eight months, more than eight up to 16, and more than 16 up to 24 months.¶Results:The overall "risks" of hospital admissions dropped after transition into unemployment. The relative risk (RR) in men and women for unemployment up to eight months was RR=0.31 (95% CI: 0.28 – 0.34), for periods of more than eight up to 16 months it was RR=0.35 (95% CI: 0.32 – 0.39) and for more than 16 up to 24 months it was RR=0.27 (95% CI: 0.23 – 0.33). In contrast, for myocardial infarction they increased with length of unemployment: up to eight months: RR=1.49 (95% CI: 1.04 – 2.13), more than eight up to 16 months: RR=1.82 (95% CI: 1.21 – 2.74), more than 16 up to 24 months: RR=3.08 (95% CI:1.84 – 5.17).¶Conclusion:For myocardial infarction the findings may reflect increased morbidity, for occupational diseases they may reflect a decrease following ceasing expositions at the workplace. For the remaining diagnostic groups decreasing health care utilisation may apply without morbidity having changed.