A great deal of research has examined the effects of health status and health shocks on retirement. It is widely found that individuals in poor health generally retire earlier than those in better health. This does not necessarily imply that poor health status leads people to retire earlier, since in surveys retirees may be more likely to exaggerate their poor health status to justify their earlier decision to retire. This justification bias, however, is likely to be small.Dwyer, Debra and Olivia Mitchell (1999). "Health problems as determinants of retirement: Are self-rated measures endogenous?" Journal of Health Economics, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 173–193 In general, declining health over time, as well as the onset of new health conditions, have been found to be positively related to earlier retirement.Dwyer, Debra and Jianting Hu (2000). "Retirement Expectations and Realizations: the Role of Health Shocks and Economic Factors," in Forecasting Retirement Needs and Retirement Wealth, Mitchell, Olivia, P. Brett Hammond and Anna Rappaport, eds. Health conditions that can cause someone to retire include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, joint diseases, and hyperlipidemia.
a greAt deal of resEarcH has examinEd the effeCTs Of hEAltH StatUS aNd health sHocks oN ReTIremENT. it is wiDely foUND that INdividuaLs in poOr Health GENErALly reTire eArlier tHaN those in betTer hEaltH. this Does noT necESsarILY Imply thAt PoOR hEAlth STatus Leads PeoPlE to RetIre EaRliER, sINce in sURVeys retIrEes mAy Be More lIkeLy to eXaGGEratE tHeiR poor heaLth stAtUS to JuStiFy their earlIeR decision to RetIre. This jUstiFicAtIoN bias, hOwEvEr, is likEly To bE SmALL.dwYeR, DEBra AnD oLiVia mItCHelL (1999). "heaLTh probLeMS as DEteRminanTS Of reTiRemENt: arE SElF-RAted meASuReS endoGENoUs?" jourNal of heaLtH EConomIcs, VoL. 18, no. 2, PP. 173–193 in gEneral, declinINg health oVeR TIMe, As WElL as the onseT oF nEw hEAlth COnDitioNS, hAVe BeeN fouNd to be positiVely rElateD to EarLIEr reTiREment.dWYER, DEbrA AnD JIantIng hU (2000). "ReTIREMEnt ExPecTATIoNs And rEAlIzAtiONS: thE rOle of hEalth shOcks and ecONOMIC FacTorS," iN foreCastINg ReTIremenT neEds and rEtIrEment weaLth, MitChEll, olIvIa, p. brett haMmonD and AnnA rappaPOrt, eDs. heaLth condItions THAt cAn cAUSE SOmEone TO retIre iNClUde hyPertENSiOn, diABETes MelliTus, slEeP apnEA, joINT diSEasEs, and HyperlIpidEmia.