The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #53028

Jeffrey A. Rhoades, PhD, Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, 540 Gather Road, Room 5212, Rockville, MD 20850, 301-427-1471, jrhoades@ahrq.gov

This presentation provides estimates of disability days for the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States using data from the 1996-2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. Estimates were examined by age, race/ethnicity, sex, marital status, education, insurance coverage, income, census region, and self reported health status. Estimates from these surveys were compared to determine the relationship between disability days and selected population characteristics over time. From 1996 to 2000 there was a decline in the proportion of the population (age 16 or older) reporting work loss days due to disability, 52.5% vs. 37.8%, respectively. There was a decline for both males and females over the five year period, with females being more likely to report work loss days due to disability. In 2000, 44.1% of the female population and 31.9% of the male population reported work loss days due to disability. Hispanics were the least likely to report work loss days. In 2000, 31.5% of Hispanics as compared to 37.3% of African Americans and 38.7% of whites and others experienced work loss days due to disability. All three groups experienced a significant decline in work loss because of disability, from 1996 to 2000. Females and those married were more likely to experience work loss days to provide care for others. In 2000, 20.9% of those married missed work to care for family members as compared to 11.1% for those not married. However, the number of work loss days was similar between married and not married, 4.8 days vs. 4.5 days, respectively.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Identify the most recent trends (1996-200
• in work loss due to disability.
• Describe the variation in disability days by a number of population characteristics, e.g., age, race, sex, income and insurance status.
• Articulate those groups most likely to experience work loss days to provide care for others.

Keywords: Disability, Disability Studies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.