The employee absenteeism costs of inflammatory bowel disease: Evidence from US national survey data

OBJECTIVE: To estimate indirect costs associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: This was a retrospective study using 1996 to 2006 US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Employed individuals were aged 18 to 64 years. A two-part model estimated the probability of time lost from work because of illness and the annual number of workdays missed. RESULTS: A total of 71.5% (143/200) and 58.2% (52,257/89,846) of individuals with and without IBD, respectively, missed time from work because of illness (P = 0.0001). Among individuals who missed work, those with IBD missed more workdays annually than those without IBD ((Equation is included in full-text article.)= 13.38, 9.89, respectively; P = 0.044). Incremental per capita cost in annual lost workdays between those with and without IBD was $783. National indirect IBD-related costs were $249 million annually. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with IBD have higher probabilities of missing time from work and missing workdays than those without IBD.