WHAT AILS YOU?

Do Boeing people face the same health issues as the U.S. population? "Overall, we see the same health issues at Boeing as in the general U.S. population," said Dr. Eric Hisken, director of Boeing Health, Benefits and Work/Life programs. "The most important reason to be aware of our own health trends is to prioritize which of our health issues Boeing Benefits, Wellness and Medical teams can work on together to help our people reduce and/or prevent these problems."

A study conducted in May 2003 looked at aggregate health insurance claims data for a large sample of Boeing people (to protect every person's privacy, the company did not see any individual's information). Below are the top 10 most frequent conditions among Boeing people.

Another important statistic is that 10 percent of the people in this sample accounted for 65 percent of the total costs in that 12-month period. One reason: Those who are unhealthy and/or injured can often have multiple conditions. The company is actively evaluating a variety of "medical care management" programs to help those facing multiple or chronic health issues.

The good news is that each of us can do something to prevent most of these conditions. Many of the leading causes of death and injury in the United States are influenced by lifestyle and behavior. It's a matter of balancing preventive medical care, physical activity, sensible nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.

Top 10 Boeing conditions by prevalence*

1. Arthritis
2. Low back pain
3. High blood pressure
4. Depression
5. Diabetes
6. Headache
7. Asthma
8. Coronary artery disease
9. Bone and joint problems
10. Sexually transmitted disease

* Based on medical and prescription claims data

Study: Sample data on 256,783 Boeing employees, pre-65 retirees and their dependents in the United States; from Nov. 1, 2001, to Oct. 31, 2002.