OBJECTIVES: Disability policies have shifted attention towards integration of workers with health problems as opposed to compensation or benefit programs. This study analyses the relationship between European countries’ integration disability policies and intention of early retirement (IER) among people with multimorbidity (MM).

METHODS: We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) from 2015. The sample comprised all employees aged 50-65, i.e. before retirement age in most countries (N=49,787). MM was measured by the presence of at least two self-reported chronic conditions; IER was elicited by using the direct question: “Thinking about your present job, would you like to retire as early as you can from this job?”. We used the integration policy indicator published by OECD, consisting of ten sub-dimensions, which capture the intensity of each country’s measures for employment integration (max:50 points).

RESULTS: IER was reported by more than half (55.3%) European workers with MM, compared to 47.3% among those without MM (p<0.001). There was an association between MM and IER (age, gender and education-adjusted OR:1.34, 95%CI1.22-1.48; p<0.001). The average score on the OCDE integration indicator in Europe was 25.7 (from lowest integration found in Greece and Portugal: 16 to the highest in Denmark: 37). A negative correlation was found between higher score on the integration policy indicator and IER in Europe, which was consistently found throughout all SHARE waves (2004-2015). Furthermore, the association between MM and IER was higher when considering only countries with poor integration policies (i.e. OECD score below European average), while non-significant when considering those countries with stronger integration policies (OR:1.46, 95%CI1.26-1.69; p<0.001 versus OR:1.16, 95%CI0.99-1.36; p=0.06).

CONCLUSIONS: MM is associated with IER in Europe. Despite heterogeneity and need for additional research, our evidence suggests stronger integration policies reduce the intention of retirement of older workers with multiple chronic conditions.