How can workforce participation be maintained in light of changes over time in determinants of cardiovascular disease?

A crucial factor in the employability of older people is health. This study focuses on a well-known health problem in the relevant age group: cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examine its prevalence in Dutch 55-64-year-old workers over two decades and aim to explain changes in its prevalence on the basis of changes in multiple determinants of CVD. The findings allow future projection of CVD prevalence among older workers. Moreover, observed changes in determinants of CVD  provide directions for focussed, preventative measures to maintain workforce participation. Using data from the nationally representative Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) over the period 1992-2013, we found a decrease in CVD prevalence from 13.9% to 9.7%. This slight decline masks larger changes in determinants which oppose one another. The prevalence of overweight and obesity, diabetes, and depression showed substantial increases. If these factors had remained constant, the CVD decline would have been 19.1% steeper. Work characteristics explained 7.0% of the CVD decline. Other important determinants of CVD (female sex, educational level, smoking, sport activity, and blood pressure) together explained another 25.3% of the CVD decline. CVD among older workers may be influenced by taking workplace measures to prevent further unfavourable developments and promoting further favourable developments in the observed determinants.