This presentation is part of: Oral Concurrent Session B - Health Economics
THE IMPACT OF DIABETES ON EMPLOYMENT IN A COHORT OF MIDDLE AGED ADULTS: FINDINGS FROM HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY
Kaan Tunceli, PhD1, Cathy J. Bradley, PhD, MPA2, Jennifer Elston Lafata, PhD1, and David Nerenz, PhD1. (1) Henry Ford Health System, Center for Health Services Research, Detroit, MI, (2) Michigan State University, Medicine, East Lansing, MI
Purpose: To understand the economic impact of interventions designed to prevent the onset of diabetes, one needs to understand the impact of diabetes on employment. We examined the effect of diabetes on labor market outcomes among older adults before the usual retirement age of 65. Methods: Using data from the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, among working individuals aged 51-61 in wave 1, we estimated the effect of diabetes in wave 1 on the probability of working in wave 2 using a multivariable probit model. In addition to socio-demographics, we controlled for health insurance, occupation, and the presence of chronic conditions. Among those who were working in wave 2, we estimated the effect of diabetes on weekly hours worked, and work-loss days using multivariable ordinary least squares regressions, and on the presence of work limitations using a multivariable probit model. We undertook all analyses separately for men (N = 3581) and women (N = 4080). A P value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Men with diabetes were 7.5 percentage points (pp) less likely to work than men without diabetes. The effect of diabetes for women was 4.9 pp. Among both women and men who work, the presence of diabetes did not affect usual weekly hours worked. However, women with diabetes had 2.3 more work-loss days per year than women without diabetes. Furthermore, the presence of diabetes increased the probability of work limitations for both men (6.4 pp) and women (7.2 pp). Conclusions: Diabetes causes both men and women to leave their job before the usual retirement age. The negative effect of diabetes on employment is larger among men than women. However, the number of work-loss days and the presence of work limitations are greater among women than men. One possibility is that women with diabetic complications might be less likely to leave workforce than diabetic men with complications. This study provides partial evidence that diabetes negatively effect work productivity of employees who survive and remain working. Although diabetes does not decrease hours worked, it does increase the number of work-loss days and the presence of work limitations. Diabetes affects patients, employers, and society not only by reducing employment but also by contributing to work loss and limitations.
