Impact of change in job status on mortality for newly onset type II diabetes patients: 7 years follow-up using cohort data of National Health Insurance, Korea

Objective This study investigates the relationship between change in job status and mortality of newly diagnosed type II diabetes patients by gender. Methods Newly onset of individuals diagnosed with type II diabetes in the years 2003 and 2004, had 7 years follow-up using National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) sample cohort data. The individuals diagnosed with type II diabetes within this period were 14,861. After adjusting for age, initial income group, insulin treatment and medical service utilization, hazard ratio was analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. Results Mortality hazard ratio of continuously unemployed individuals is 3.78 times higher in males and 9.78 times higher in females than in those who keep their jobs. Also, individuals with a change in job status (e.g. from industrial worker to unemployed or self-employed), the mortality hazard ratio is 2.24 times higher in males and 5.23 times higher in females than in those who keep their jobs. The impact of change in job status change is largest for the middle class males. The middle class males has the higher mortality hazard ratio, 6.14 times in maintain unemployed and 4.12 times in change his job (industrial worker to unemployed or self-employer) than maintain one's job. Conclusions The continuous unemployment and the loss of job are related to risk of death in diabetic patients. The impact of unemployed is stronger than job change (loss or change). The impact of job status change is largest for the middle class man.