Work Limitations and Their Relationship to Morbidity Burden among Academic Health Center Employees with Diabetes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of work limitations and their relationship to morbidity burden among academic health center employees with diabetes. Employees with diabetes were surveyed via Internet and mail using the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Morbidity burden was measured using the Adjusted Clinical Groups methodology. Seventy-two percent of the employees with diabetes had a work limitation. Adjusted odds ratios for overall, physical, time, and output limitations were 1.81, 2.27, 2.13, and 2.14, respectively. Morbidity burden level is an indicator of work limitations in employees with diabetes and can be used to identify employees who may benefit from specialized services aimed at addressing their work limitations associated with diabetes.