Association between morbidity of non-communicable disease and employment status: a comparison between Korea and the United States

Sung Hee Kwon,Jun-Pyo Myong,Kyeong Yeon Kim,Hyoung-Ah Kim

doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08883-3

Sung Hee Kwon, Jun-Pyo Myong + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08883-3

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Abstract

BackgroundGlobally, the prevalence of chronic disease continues to rise and is likely to grow further over the coming decades due to population ageing. Since older age is associated closely with development of chronic disease, it stands to reason that demographic changes will increase the proportion of older workers with chronic disease. The aim of the present study was to determine how chronic diseases affect employment status in Korea and the USA.MethodsThe study was based on National Health and Nutrition Survey data (2007–2014) obtained by the Korean and American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 44,693 subjects were categorized into two geographical groups: Korea (29,260 subjects) and the USA (15,433 subjects). A chi-square test was used to compare the groups in terms of socio-demographic factors, health-related factors, and chronic disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect of five chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer) on employment status.ResultsThere were 29,260 Korean and 15,433 American respondents. Chronic disease increased the risk of unemployment in Korea markedly (Odds ratio [OR] range, 1.17–2.47). Cardiovascular disease and cancer had the most profound negative effect on Korean unemployment (OR = 2.47 and 2.03, respectively). The risk of unemployment was generally 2–3-fold lower in the USA (OR range, 0.5–1.04).ConclusionsChronic disease had a significant impact on economic activity in Korea, but a smaller impact in the USA. This difference may be related to different health insurance schemes and cultural approaches to people with diseases in the two countries. It is important to explore factors that limit economic participation by people with chronic diseases, and to identify social policies that will overcome these factors. Further between-country studies are needed to identify social solutions to the socio-economic burden of chronic illness.

Highlights

The prevalence of chronic disease continues to rise and is likely to grow further over the coming decades due to population ageing
The five ethnic groups in the United States of America (USA) did not differ significantly in terms of age or gender. They were all, including the Asian Americans, older and more likely to be female than the Koreans
The American ethnic groups did not differ significantly in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI), and all were more likely to be overweight than the Koreans (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of chronic disease continues to rise and is likely to grow further over the coming decades due to population ageing. Known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), are a main cause of death globally They associate with a significant socio-economic burden since they account for most of the governmental health care expenditure on treatment and prevention. The prevalence of chronic disease continues to rise around the world [1,2,3], and is likely to grow further over the coming decades due to population ageing. Since an older age associates closely with the development of chronic disease, these demographic changes will increase the proportion of older workers in the labor force who have chronic disease [4]. This explains why the labor market focuses on the working age and chronically ill workers [5]

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