Impact of diabetes on employment and income in Manitoba, Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To compare employment and income of working-age (18-64 years) people with and without diabetes.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective population-based cohort study based in Manitoba, Canada, consisting of 25,554 individuals without diabetes and 608 with diabetes, of whom 242 had a complication of the disease. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of employment and income variables were determined.


RESULTS
Diabetic individuals with complications were twice as likely not to be in the labor force (OR 2.07 [95% CI 1.49-2.87]) than nondiabetic individuals. This difference was not evident for diabetic individuals without complications (OR 1.20 [0.93-1.56]). Diabetic individuals without complications had incomes similar to those of nondiabetic individuals. The total income of diabetic individuals with complications was 72% of the income of nondiabetic individuals. When the analysis was limited to only those in the labor force, diabetic workers with complications still had only 85% the employment income of nondiabetic people. Diabetic individuals with complications received 58% more social support income. In a separate analysis of aboriginal individuals, complicated diabetes was not associated with an increased likelihood of not working or a decrease in employment income.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, complications of diabetes and the absence of the disease affect the ability to earn income in Manitoba, Canada. This effect was not identified in the aboriginal population of the province.
Kraut
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. akraut@ms.umanitoba.ca
Walld
R
R
Tate
R
R
Mustard
C
C
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007198:Indians, North American; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People