Work participation among Australians with diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To examine longitudinal associations between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and work participation among Australians.

METHODS

Adults (≥18 years) from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey were followed from 2013 to 2017 and 2021. The exposure was T2DM status: prevalent (T2DM at baseline and follow-up), incident (no diabetes at baseline; T2DM at follow-up), or no diabetes. Outcomes were changes in work participation (transition out of or into employment) and patterns of weekly working hours (including persistent non-employment). Survey-weighted Poisson regression estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR); group-based trajectory modelling examined working hours patterns.

RESULTS

Over four years, prevalent (adjusted IRR 1.57, 95%CI 1.09-2.25) and incident T2DM (adjusted IRR 1.59, 95%CI 1.12-2.25) were associated with transition out of employment, and incident T2DM with reduced transition into employment (adjusted IRR 0.22, 95%CI 0.09-0.56). These associations were no longer significant over eight years of follow-up. Prevalent T2DM was associated with persistent non-employment (adjusted odds ratio 2.04, 95%CI 1.44-2.88), and incident T2DM with lower odds of increasing working hours (adjusted odds ratio 0.44, 95%CI 0.22-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

T2DM is associated with reduced work participation, particularly immediately following diagnosis, highlighting the importance of early, targeted workplace support.