title: A retrospective analysis of disability and its related costs among employees with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the frequency and cost of disability among actively employed individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of disability and claims data. Employees 40 to 63 years old with a diagnosis of COPD between January 1, 2001, and March 31, 2004, were identified, and controls were matched 2:1 to these subjects. Likelihood and cost of disability were compared between cohorts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2696 controls were matched to 1349 COPD subjects. Mean age was 52 years, and cohorts were approximately 50% male. A significantly (P < 0.0001) greater proportion of COPD subjects used short-term (21.8% vs 7.0%), long-term (2.4% vs 0.4%), or any disability (22.8% vs 7.3%). Associated costs were also higher among COPD subjects (8559 dollars vs 5443 dollars; P = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within a population of actively employed individuals 40 to 63 years old, COPD was found to have a substantial impact on the frequency and cost of disability.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics & Outcomes, i3 Innovus, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA. theodore.darkow@i3nnovus.com
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Darkow
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kadlubek
authors.forename: Hemal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Jenö P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Marton
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States