Health information and lifestyle behaviours: the impact of a diabetes diagnosis

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

Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers from HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York

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 cutoff 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 nonparametric estimations with varying bandwidths. Overall, our findings suggest the relevance of health information in affecting changes in key lifestyle behaviours.

Keywords: diabetes; health information; lifestyle behaviours; regression discontinuity design; administrative data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 I10 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-02
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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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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