The earnings, income, and assets of persons aged 51-61 with and without musculoskeletal conditions.

Abstract

To describe the personal and family earnings, income, and assets of persons with musculoskeletal conditions. This study uses the Health and Retirement Survey, a national, community based probability sample of persons 51-61 years of age and their spouses in 1992 to estimate earnings, income, and assets (by kind) in the years immediately prior to the normal age of retirement. Fifty-nine percent of persons 51-61 years of age (13.76 million) report one or more musculoskeletal condition; of these 38% (8.74 million) also report at least one comorbid condition and 21% (5.02 million) report no such comorbidity. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity report 18% lower family earnings, 15% lower family income, and 35% fewer assets than the average among all persons these ages. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and no comorbidity have earnings, incomes, and assets closer to the average among their peers. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity have lower earnings and incomes now and fewer assets with which to face the future than the remainder of their peers.