title: Assessing the burden of disease among an employed population: implications for employer-sponsored prevention programs.
abstract: Escalating healthcare costs have led employers to identify ways to assess the actual burden of disease among their employees. One such measure is the use of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). DALYs were calculated for the General Motors (GM) population for 1994 through 1998 using data from GM's Mortality Registry, published life tables, and age- and sex-specific disease incidence and disability data from the U.S. Burden of Disease Study. Chronic diseases accounted for 45% (245,844 of 540,450) of total DALYs lost. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease led the list for both men and women and accounted for 39% and 31%, respectively, of the top 10 DALYs lost. Disease burden among employees could be reduced through targeted interventions aimed at the risk factors associated with the leading causes of DALYs.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program Office, Cancer Surveillance Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. cxf7@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: Faruque
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Jane G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: Yuliya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Popova
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Schenk
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States