Social security status and mortality in Belgian and Spanish male workers

Research by Xavier Duran, Christophe Vanroelen, Patrick Deboosere and Fernando G. Benavides about the link between social security status and mortality in Belgian and Spanish male workers was recently published in Gaceta Sanitaria. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2016.03.016

Abstract of the article:

Objective

To assess differences in mortality rates between social security statuses in two independent samples of Belgian and Spanish male workers.

Methods

Study of two retrospective cohorts (Belgium, n = 23,607; Spain, n = 44,385) of 50–60 year old male employees with 4 years of follow-up. Mortality rate ratios (MRR) were estimated using Poisson regression models.

Results

Mortality for subjects with permanent disability was higher than for the employed, for both Belgium [MRR=4.56 (95% CI: 2.88–7.21)] and Spain [MRR=7.15 (95% CI: 5.37–9.51)]. For the unem- ployed/early retirees, mortality was higher in Spain [MRR = 1.64 (95% CI: 1.24–2.17)] than in Belgium [MRR = 0.88 (95% CI: 0.46–1.71)].

Conclusion

MRR differences between Belgium and Spain for unemployed workers could be partly explained because of differences between the two social security systems. Future studies should further explore mortality differences between countries with different social security systems.

Keywords

Permanent disability, Mortality, Occupational health, Social security, Unemployment

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