PRODUCTIVITY LOSSES OF CHRONIC DISEASES AMONG CANADIAN LABOUR FORCE FROM 1994 TO 2005: ESTIMATE FROM THE NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES

Purpose: This study estimates the productivity losses from Diabetes Mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), some measures of risk factors (smoking, drinking) and other chronic disorders among Canadian labour force.

Method: Using the data from the National Population Health Survey 1994 and Canadian Community Health Survey 2005, the probability of having disability days, number of disability days, and income losses have been estimated and compared in years 1994 and 2005. In each year, a two-part model is used to estimate the impact of DM, CVD, and other chronic disorders on labour market outcomes. Part one uses logistic regression to estimate the impact of risk factors and chronic diseases on the probability of having any disability day; part two uses log-transformed OLS regression with smearing correction to estimate the impact of each risk factor and chronic disorder on number of the disability days.

Result: Over the past decade, the prevalence of DM, DRCOM, CVD, depression, and obesity have been increased. However, the prevalence of smoking has been decreased, and the number of regular drinkers and physical exercise has been increased. The overall trend of disability days has been increased insignificantly, for women and men. Although the prevalence of DM, DRCOM, CVD, depression, and obesity have been increased, during the last 10 years, the overall trend of disability days due to these chronic diseases have been significantly decreased, for both women and men. Some of the decrease in the impact of these diseases on disability days could be credited to risk factors such as reductions in smoking prevalence, and physical inactivity. Another portion of decrease could be attributed to the secondary prevention of drugs and surgical treatment due to the pharmacologic and health technology.

Conclusion: The results of this study illustrate the impact of the change of the risk factors on the productivity losses among Canadian labour force. The results are of use to health service researchers interested in identifying and quantifying chronic-related productivity losses using econometric modeling.