Association between Restriction on Economic Activity Due to Health Condition and All-Cause Mortality: Results from Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Background: According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the unem-ployment rate of the middle-aged and elderly population is increasing worldwide. Moreover, 15.7% of middle-aged and elderly people in Korea are unable to engage in economic activities despite their de-sire for economic activities. Under these circumstances, various studies have been conducted to deter-mine the relationship between unemployment and unhealthy status.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the association between restrictions on economic activities due to health conditions and all-cause mortality rates in those aged 45 and older in Korea and to lower the mortality rates of these groups.Results: The study found that the mortality rate of those who responded "very probable" to experience of economic activity restrictions due to health conditions was 2.376 times (hazard ratio [HR] 2.376, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.933-2.920, p-value < .0001) higher than those who responded "not at all". Moreover, in a group with current non-economic activity, the mortality rate of those who responded "very probable" to experience of economic activity restrictions due to health conditions was 2.345 times (HR: 2.345, 95% CI: 1.856-2.963, p-value <.0001) higher than those who responded "not at all."Conclusion: This study found that the death rate of groups with economic activity restrictions due to health conditions was higher than that of other groups, particularly those with current non-economic activities due to restrictions on economic activities. Thus, if a policy related to social participation, such as economic activities, is provided to a group of individuals with non-economic activities, the mortality rate for these groups is expected to be lower.Copyright (c) 2022, Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency & Critical Care Medicine.