Chronic conditions and work
Chronic conditions refer to diseases and health conditions that last a long time and generally progress slowly. Although they can occur at any age, they become more common later in life. They are often invisible, sometimes episodic (i.e. they come and go) and often characterized by fluctuating symptoms that leave people disabled one day and functional the next. Examples of chronic diseases include arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain, depression and fibromyalgia. IWH research in this area focuses on the effects of chronic disease on work participation and productivity, as well as the effectiveness of job accommodations, benefits and other programs to ensure workers with chronic disease can stay at, or return to, work.
At Work article
Sex/gender analysis: Gender study finds overwork linked to higher risks of diabetes in women, not men
Working too long increases risks of diabetes—for women, not men—IWH and ICES study finds.
Published: August 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Psychosocial work factors and diabetes: what is known and what is left to know?
Published: Journal of Diabetes, Metabolic Disorders & Control, August 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Adverse effect of long work hours on incident diabetes in 7065 Ontario workers followed for 12 years
Published: BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, July 2018
IWH in the media
Hard-working women, go home earlier to avoid this disease
Here's a good reason for women to work less, ask for a raise or get their partners to pick up around the house more: If women work fewer hours, it'll lower their risk of diabetes, according to a study by the Institute for Work & Health, reports CNN's Jen Christensen.
Published: CNN, July 2018
IWH in the media
Working overtime could raise women's diabetes risk
Working lots of overtime may get you appreciation from the boss, but it might be bad for your health, writes Serena Gordon of U.S. News & World Report, about a new IWH study
Published: U.S. News & World Report, July 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Self-reported work conditions in Canada: examining changes between 2002 and 2012
Published: Canadian Journal of Public Health, July 2018
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Challenges in accommodating mental and physical health conditions: What workplace parties are saying
In this presentation, Dr. Monique Gignac shares findings from a study examining organizational perspectives on implementing work disability prevention and management practices, as well as key issues in supporting workers with chronic, episodic conditions.
Published: June 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Are there differences in workplace accommodation needs, use and unmet needs among older workers with arthritis, diabetes and no chronic conditions? Examining the role of health and work context
Published: Work, Aging & Retirement, June 2018
IWH in the media
100 million Americans have chronic pain. Very few use one of the best tools to treat it.
The pain system is "like an alarm system for your house." It can break; it can malfunction, says Dr. Andrea Furlan in this article exploring treatment options for chronic pain that has no biological cause.
Published: Vox, May 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Social role participation and satisfaction with life: a study among patients with ankylosing spondylitis and population controls
Published: Arthritis Care & Research, April 2018