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Clinical Pathways to Disability

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  • Mary Beth Landrum
  • Kate A. Stewart
  • David M. Cutler

Abstract

This paper examines the pathways by which individuals transition from healthy to disabled. Because of the high prevalence and costs associated with disability, understanding these pathways is critical to developing interventions to prevent or minimize disability. We compare two estimates of disabling conditions: those observed in medical claims and conditions indicated by the disabled individual. A small number of conditions explain about half of incident disability: arthritis, infectious disease, dementia, heart failure, diabetes, and stroke. These conditions show up in medical claims and self reports. A large number of elderly also attribute disability to old age and various symptoms. Because so many of the most disabling conditions do not have clear medical treatments, the outlook for major reductions in disability might be limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary Beth Landrum & Kate A. Stewart & David M. Cutler, 2007. "Clinical Pathways to Disability," NBER Working Papers 13304, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:13304
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    1. Arrighi, Y. & Rapp, T. & Sirven, N., 2017. "The impact of economic conditions on the disablement process: A Markov transition approach using SHARE data," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(7), pages 778-785.
    2. Nicolas Sirven, 2012. "On the Socio-Economic Determinants of Frailty: Findings from Panel and Retrospective Data from SHARE," Working Papers DT52, IRDES institut for research and information in health economics, revised Dec 2012.
    3. Michael Chernew & David M. Cutler & Kaushik Ghosh & Mary Beth Landrum, 2016. "Understanding the Improvement in Disability-Free Life Expectancy in the US Elderly Population," NBER Chapters, in: Insights in the Economics of Aging, pages 161-201, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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