A national survey of health-related work limitations among employed persons in the United States

Purpose: TO estimate the total prevalence of health-related work limitation s among working people in the United States (US) as well as their condition -specific prevalence. Methods: A new questionnaire measuring limitations in ability to perform sp ecific work demands was administered to 940 employed people in a national h ousehold survey. The prevalence of specific work limitations is reported as are condition-specific risk estimates (odds ratios) based on logistic regr ession. Results: In the US, 19.3 % of working people (CI = 14.0, 24.6) were limited in their abilities to perform physical work demands; 24.1 % (CI = 18.9, 29 .2) were limited in performing psychosocial work demands; and 13.8% (CI = 8 .3,19.3) were limited in their abilities to function without difficulty wit hin the ambient work environment. With successive increments in the number of conditions, the odds of having a limitation increased significantly. Conclusions: This study contributes new information concerning the implicat ions of chronic health problems for working people and the significant risk s for workers with multiple chronic conditions.