Healthy worker effect

Compared with the general population, workers have generallybetter health that permits employment. The healthyworker effect has been typically observed when mortality ratesof employed population are compared with those in thegeneral population, the workers' cohort showing lowermortality rates. The healthy workereffect can be considered as a selection bias in regards to thecomparison group, or as a confounding consequence of the factor, previous health status, associated both to exposureand to subsequent health status. Potential causes and effectsof the healthy worker effect should be properly evaluated inany occupational epidemiology study.