The burden of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias in an employed population: associated costs, absences, and objective productivity loss.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardiac arrhythmias (CA) in an employed population.
METHODS: Regression model analysis comparing objective work output, employee turnover, comorbidity prevalence, total health benefit (health care, drug, sick leave, disability, workers' compensation) costs, and absence days for AF versus Non-AF and CA versus Non-CA cohorts, while controlling for differences in patient characteristics.
RESULTS: Cohort sizes were 1403 (AF), 323,333 (Non-AF), 4497 (CA), and 318,917 (Non-CA) employees. Annual AF benefit costs exceeded Non-AF costs by $3958. CA costs exceeded Non-CA costs by $2897. AF and CA cohorts had significantly more sick leave and short-term disability absence days than Non-AF and Non-CA cohorts, respectively. Annual CA work output was significantly lower than Non-CA output.
CONCLUSIONS: AF and CA place significant cost, absence, and productivity burdens on employers.