The earnings, income, and assets of persons aged 51-61 with and without musculoskeletal conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the personal and family earnings, income, and assets of persons with musculoskeletal conditions.

METHODS: This study uses the Health and Retirement Survey, a national, community based probability sample of persons 51-61 years of age and their spouses in 1992 to estimate earnings, income, and assets (by kind) in the years immediately prior to the normal age of retirement.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of persons 51-61 years of age (13.76 million) report one or more musculoskeletal condition; of these 38% (8.74 million) also report at least one comorbid condition and 21% (5.02 million) report no such comorbidity. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity report 18% lower family earnings, 15% lower family income, and 35% fewer assets than the average among all persons these ages. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and no comorbidity have earnings, incomes, and assets closer to the average among their peers.

CONCLUSION: Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity have lower earnings and incomes now and fewer assets with which to face the future than the remainder of their peers.