Work Disability from Coronary Heart Disease in Women

This study investigates the comparatively high rate of work disability from coronary disease in women. A sample of working women and men hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction was followed for two years to ascertain patterns of labor market withdrawal. Women were more likely than men at 24 months to have withdrawn entirely from market work. Multivariate statistical analysis suggests this greater likelihood stems from differences in behavioral responses to disease rather than from differences in disease severity. Economic incentives to resume work are shown to play an especially crucial role in these responses. Implications of these findings are discussed.