Health Information and Lifestyle Behaviours: The Impact of a Diabetes Diagnosis

Alessio Gaggero (), Joan Gil, Dolores Jiménez-Rubio () and Eugenio Zucchelli
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Dolores Jiménez-Rubio: Universidad de Granada
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Dolores Jiménez Rubio

No 14106, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We estimate short- and long-term causal impacts of a type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) diagnosis on lifestyle behaviours. We employ a fuzzy regression discontinuity design exploiting the exogenous cut-off value in the diagnosis of T2DM provided by a biomarker (glycated haemoglobin, HbA1c). We make use of unique administrative longitudinal data from Spain and focus on the impact of a diagnosis on clinically measured BMI, smoking and alcohol consumption. We find that, following a T2DM diagnosis, individuals appear to reduce their weight in the short-term. These effects are particularly large among obese individuals and those diagnosed with depression. Patients who are younger, still in the labour market and healthier also present increased short-term probabilities of quitting smoking. In addition, we provide evidence of statistically significant long-term impacts of a T2DM diagnosis on BMI up to three years from the diagnosis. Our results are consistent across parametric and non-parametric estimations with varying bandwidths. Overall, our findings suggest the relevance of health information in affecting changes in key lifestyle behaviours.

Keywords: regression discontinuity design; lifestyle behaviours; health information; diabetes; administrative data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 I10 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2021-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published - published in: Social Science and Medicine, 2022, 314, 115420

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Working Paper: Health information and lifestyle behaviours: the impact of a diabetes diagnosis (2021)
Working Paper: Health information and lifestyle behaviours: the impact of a diabetes diagnosis (2021)
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