The Disability burden of COPD.

TitleThe Disability burden of COPD.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsSnider, JThornton, Romley, JA, Wong, KS, Zhang, J, Eber, M, Goldman, DP
JournalCOPD
Volume9
Issue5
Pagination513-21
Date Published2012 Aug
ISSN Number1541-2563
KeywordsAged, Cost of Illness, Disabled Persons, Employment, Female, Humans, Income, Insurance, Disability, Likelihood Functions, Logistic Models, Male, Middle Aged, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Social Security, United States
Abstract

Affecting an estimated 12.6 million people and causing over 100,000 deaths per year, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacts a heavy burden on American society. Despite knowledge of the impact of COPD on morbidity, mortality, and health care costs, little is known about the association of the disease with economic outcomes such as employment and the collection of disability. We quantify the impact of COPD on Americans aged 51 and older-in particular, their employment prospects and their likelihood of collecting federal disability benefits-by conducting longitudinal regression analysis using the Health and Retirement Study. Controlling for initial health status and a variety of sociodemographic factors, we find that COPD is associated with a decrease in the likelihood of employment of 8.6 percentage points (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.50-0.67), from 44% to 35%. This association rivals that of stroke and is larger than those of heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. Furthermore, COPD is associated with a 3.9 percentage point (OR 2.52, 95% CI 2.00-3.17) increase in the likelihood of collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), from 3.2% to 7.1%, as well as a 1.7 percentage point (OR 2.87, 95% CI 2.02-4.08) increase in the likelihood of collecting Supplemental Security Income (SSI), from 1.0% to 2.7%. The associations of COPD with SSDI and SSI are the largest of any of the conditions studied. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that COPD imposes a substantial burden on American society by inhibiting employment and creating disability.

DOI10.3109/15412555.2012.696159
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22721264?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/employment/disability/disability/Morbidity/Mortality/health care costs/social security/Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income

Endnote ID

69586

Alternate JournalCOPD
Citation Key7742
PubMed ID22721264