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The
Negative Economic Impact of Chronic Fatigue
$9.1 billion in lost productivity! That’s the
conclusion of
a study conducted by SRA International,
Inc., Division of Viral and Rickettsial
Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and The Lewin Group. Basing their
study on the assumption that there is only a 37%
decline in household productivity and a 54%
reduction in labor force productivity among
people with Chronic Fatigue (as opposed to total
productivity loss), the study factored the
impact when that productivity loss is spread
across the up to 800,000 Americans who must cope
with the disabling reality of Chronic Fatigue.
When diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue, most
victims are faced with learning how to cope with
this debilitating illness. That’s a given.
What’s often overlooked, however, is that
Chronic Fatigue victims also have to make
dramatic economic adjustments -- at a time when
they simply don’t have the energy to make such
forced changes. The $9.1 billion conclusion
finally puts a dollar figure on the negative
financial reality of Chronic Fatigue.
Note: Chronic Fatigue is a different
diagnosis from Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome.
July 2004
Copyright © 2005 Pamela Rice Hahn
All Rights Reserved |
