%0 Report
        %A Gaggero, Alessio
%A Gil, Joan
%A Jiménez-Rubio, Dolores
%A Zucchelli, Eugenio
        %T Health Information and Lifestyle Behaviours: The Impact of a Diabetes Diagnosis
        %D 2021
        %8 2021 Feb
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 14106
        %U https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp14106
        %X 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.
        %K regression discontinuity design
%K lifestyle behaviours
%K health information
%K diabetes
%K administrative data