Osteoarthritis and Absenteeism Costs: Evidence From US National Survey Data

Objective: This study seeks to quantify the effects of osteoarthritis on the cost of absenteeism from work. Methods: This study performs multivariable analyses to examine the relationships between osteoarthritis and annual cost to employers that is associated with absenteeism. The cost is measured a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2010-03, Vol.52 (3), p.263-268
Main Authors: Kotlarz, Harry, Gunnarsson, Candace L., Fang, Hai, Rizzo, John A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absenteeism
Adolescent
Adult
Arthritis
Biological and medical sciences
Cost of Illness
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Labor costs
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases
Occupational health
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis - economics
Regression Analysis
Sex Distribution
Sick Leave - economics
United States
Working hours
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objective: This study seeks to quantify the effects of osteoarthritis on the cost of absenteeism from work. Methods: This study performs multivariable analyses to examine the relationships between osteoarthritis and annual cost to employers that is associated with absenteeism. The cost is measured as the probability of absenteeism, days missed from work, and their dollar values, all indirect costs. Results: Osteoarthritis leads to a significantly higher probability of absenteeism and more days missed from work. Osteoarthritis increases annual per capita absenteeism costs by $469 for female workers and by $520 for male workers. This is equivalent to approximately 3 lost workdays. Aggregate annual absenteeism costs are $10.3 billion (women = $5.5 billion; men = $4.8 billion). Conclusions: Aggregate annual absenteeism costs of osteoarthritis are quite substantial as measured by the probability of absenteeism, days missed from work, and their dollar values, compared with other major chronic diseases.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181cf00aa