Quantifying the Incremental and Aggregate Cost of Missed Workdays in Adults with Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Although the national cost of missed workdays associated with diabetes has been estimated previously, we use the most recent available national data and methodology to update the individual and national estimates for the U.S population.

Methods: We identified 14,429 employed individuals ≥ 18 years of age in 2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Diabetes and missed workdays were based on self-report, and cost was based on multiplying the daily wage rate for each individual by the number of missed days. Adjusted total national burden of missed workdays associated with diabetes was calculated using a novel two-part model to simultaneously estimate the association of diabetes with the number and cost of missed workdays.

Results: The unadjusted annual mean 2011 cost of missed workdays was $277 (95 % CI 177.0-378.0) for individuals with diabetes relative to $160 (95 % CI $130-$189) for those without. The incremental cost of missed workdays associated with diabetes was $120 (95 % CI $30.7-$209.1). Based on the US population in 2011, the unadjusted national burden of missed workdays associated with diabetes was estimated to be $2.7 billion, while the fully adjusted incremental national burden was estimated to be $1.1 billion.

Conclusions: We provide more precise estimates of the cost burden of diabetes due to missed workdays on the U.S population. The high incremental and total cost burden of missed workdays among Americans with diabetes suggests the need for interventions to improve diabetes care management among employed individuals.

Keywords: cost; diabetes; work absenteeism.