title: How co-morbidities magnify the effect of arthritis on labour force participation and economic status: a costs of illness study in Australia.
abstract: Few studies have assessed the impact of co-morbid conditions amongst patients with arthritis. This study will quantify the impact co-morbid health conditions have on the labour force status and economic circumstances of people with arthritis. This study uses a microsimulation model, Health&WealthMOD, to quantify the impact of co-morbidities on the labour force participation and economic circumstances of 45- to 64-year-old Australians with arthritis. The results show that the probability of being out of the labour force increases with increasing number of co-morbidities. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the amount of weekly private income received by people with arthritis and no co-morbidities, and people with arthritis and one or two co-morbidities. However, those with arthritis and three or more co-morbidities received a weekly private income 72 % lower than people with arthritis alone (95 % CI -82, -57). People with arthritis and co-morbidities paid less in tax and received more in government transfer payments. As such, it is important to consider the co-morbid conditions an individual has when assessing the impact of arthritis on labour force participation and economic circumstances. People with arthritis that have multiple co-morbid conditions are likely to have their labour force participation and economic circumstances interrupted much more than those with arthritis only.
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 77, Camperdown, NSW, 1450, Australia.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Callander
authors.forename: Rupendra N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Passey
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Percival
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D018868:Insurance, Disability / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D012179:Retirement / Q000191:economics; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000191:economics; D013660:Taxes; D014478:Unemployment; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation