Managing the Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Workforce Health and Productivity: Upping a Leading Employer's Game

Objective: To develop new evidence for advancing a leading employer's capacity to manage the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Retrospective analyses of an integrated database tracking active employees (n = 19,989) from 2001-2009. Tests on 29 measures of direct/indirect costs and drivers examined unique disease burden and impact over time. Results: The costs of COPD exceeded workforce-wide costs by wide margins in 2001-2002. Direct costs linked to the disease rose in 2008-2009; whereas, its indirect costs dropped sharply. Differences between yet-to-be-diagnosed versus diagnosed and newly diagnosed versus established diagnosed groups were directionally consistent on driver and cost measures in 2001-2002. In 2008-2009, these comparisons were similarly consistent on indirect measures but not direct measures. Medication use helped to explain the inconsistencies. Discussion: New action on COPD-oriented unit price escalation, prevention, and medical management concerns raised by these results could strengthen an already exemplary health and productivity program.