Advances in medical diagnosis and treatment can have an unexpected impact on your health costs. Conditions that rarely showed up in past claims become important cost-drivers.

The best defense for management: staying on top of the trends. Here are three medical conditions that have been showing up with ever-increasing frequency in recent years. The conditions themselves aren’t disabling but increase employees’ risk of future long-term disability claims.

1. Metabolic syndrome

According to a Milliman Benefits study, four of the seven biggest U.S. insurers report an upswing in applicants with the condition, often tied to disabling heart attacks. Common risk factors include obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and/or high blood pressure.

Every carrier considers metabolic syndrome a significant factor in raising an employee’s disability risk. This results in higher premiums, but early diagnosis and treatment (especially through disease management programs) can reduce the chance of future disability claims.

2. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Five of seven carriers have seen upticks in OSA cases. The condition can lead to chronic fatigue, mood and anxiety disorders and workplace or off-site accidents, among other issues.

Obese employees are at much higher risk of OSA than the general population. All seven insurers say OSA increases an employee’s disability risk.

3. Restless leg syndrome (RLS)

Four of seven carriers have seen RLS increases. Six of the seven insurers consider RLS a condition that increases disability risk. This is especially true for employees who work night shifts and/or desk jobs.

Cutting the risk

Best practices for cutting employees’ risks (and your long-term health and disability plan premiums) include:

• disease management programs, especially for obesity and diabetes
• preventive care - the aforementioned conditions, especially RLS, are most commonly recognized first by an employee’s primary-care physician, and
• employee education on proper prescription-drug use to keep conditions under control.