It is a fact that the US has an aging workforce. It is also a fact that our nation is becoming increasingly overweight. When you add these two factors together, you get an increased incidence of people with comorbid conditions. So what happens if you are a worker that gets injured while on the job but are also dealing with a comorbid condition?

What is a Comorbidity?

First, let’s start by defining comorbidity. A co-morbidity is when there is the presence of at least two chronic conditions— at the same time, in the same person. Examples include common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary issues, and major depressive disorder.  

Treatment of Workplace Injuries

As an injured worker, having a comorbid condition often leads to treatment complications. It also means more days in therapy and a delay on when you can be released to work without restrictions. By and large, comorbidities mean there will be longer claims duration, increased litigation rates, increased surgery rates,and higher medical costs. 

The Healing Process

Comorbid conditions significantly slow the healing process. For instance, diabetics have a much slower healing time because their elevated sugar narrows blood vessels, thereby decreasing essential blood flow to the wound. COPD is another common comorbidity that stalls the healing process. This condition hijacks any and all oxygen you have, which is vital to the healing process. The very process of aging is considered a comorbidity as older people just don’t heal as fast. They have fragile skin and often develop infections. Additionally, anyone who lacks proper nutrition will heal up to three times slower than someone who is eating the proper nutrients. This goes for anyone—regardless of how much or little they weigh. 

Workers’ Compensation and Comorbidities

So, back to the question about what happens to a comorbid individual who becomes injured while on the job? Does your comorbidity get treated alongside your injury? The answer is, probably not. While the presence of a comorbid condition may influence how the workers’ injury is treated, it is likely not compensable in itself. In Georgia, to be compensable, injury or illness must arise out of and in the course and scope of employment. In other words, you have to be able to prove the condition was caused by work. 

The very existence of comorbidities could be so much less if businesses would begin implementing prevention programs and company wide health initiatives. There are many strategies that companies have found successful with helping to manage comorbidity in the workplace. If you are an injured worker with a comorbid condition, we encourage you to contact a workers’ comp attorney to make sure you understand all of your rights and are protected.