The impact of age on shoulder injury claim duration is poorly understood and highlights the urgent need to understand this relationship to guide tailored support for an aging workforce. This study determined the impact of age on claim duration among workers with work-related shoulder injuries treated under a standardized care pathway.
This retrospective cohort included 2,482 initial shoulder injury claimants treated under a care pathway between 2014-2018. The younger (18-49 years old) cohort comprised 1,307(53%) workers, while the older cohort (50+) comprised 1,175 (47%) workers. Descriptive statistics examined age-based cohorts’ differences including demographics, injury, occupational, and program factors. A sensitivity analysis included self-reported factors. Cox regression determined the impact of age on claim duration. This retrospective cohort included 2,482 initial shoulder injury claimants treated under a care pathway between 2014-2018. The younger (18-49 years old) cohort comprised 1,307(53%) workers, while the older cohort (50+) comprised 1,175 (47%) workers. Descriptive statistics examined age-based cohorts’ differences including demographics, injury, occupational, and program factors. A sensitivity analysis included self-reported factors. Cox regression determined the impact of age on claim duration.
This whole cohort was characterized by traumatic injuries (94.3%), high prevalence of sprain/strains (67.6%), with 65.7% of the cohort having injuries restricted to the shoulder, without significant differences between age cohorts. The older cohort was 10 times less likely to have their claims closed compared to the younger cohort (Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.9, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.8; 0.997). Longer time-to-treatment start was significantly correlated to longer claim durations (HR: 0.002, 95%CI: 0.0003; 0.01). In the sensitivity analysis including self-reported measures, age lost significance (HR: 0.9, 95%CI: 0.8; 1.03), but delayed treatment start remained as a large determinant of claim duration (HR: 0.003, 95%CI: 0.0004; 0.02). Workers aged 50 and older often encountered delays in treatment and prolonged claims duration than workers aged 18-49, even though standardized care pathways were used.
Timely treatment for work-related shoulder injuries is critical regardless of age. Initiating treatment promptly significantly reduces the duration of claims. While age had a small effect in determining claim duration, individuals aged 50 and older frequently encountered delays in treatment initiation, even when provided with standardized care pathways. Additional research is needed to determine if older workers can achieve faster RTW rates and shorter claim durations compared to their younger counterparts by receiving early intervention.
This study highlighted the critical role of early intervention in reducing claim durations for work-related shoulder injuries, irrespective of age. Physiotherapists should prioritize timely treatment initiation to mitigate the risk of prolonged disability and facilitate quicker return-to-work. Additionally, efforts should be made to address age-related biases in healthcare delivery to ensure equitable access to timely treatment for all age groups.
aging
claim duration
