The collective health of workers is changing, thanks to advances in medical technology, health care policy, social conditions, age demographics and myriad other factors. Those changes have in turn contributed to new trends in short- and long-term disability claims. In honor of national Disability Insurance Awareness Month, leading disability provider Unum conducted a 10-year review of disability claims. Reviewing more than 424,500 new disability claims in 2017 paying $3.8 billion in disability benefits, the company identified the most common claims as well as changes over the past 10 years. Related: It's time for a relationship check with your disability carrier "As people work longer and later in life, we're seeing the effects of an aging workforce," said Greg Breter, senior vice president of Benefits at Unum. "The spike in joint disorders and musculoskeletal issues is especially prominent among Baby Boomers, who make up over half of all long-term disability claims." Musculoskeletal issues have increased, for example, likely due to an aging population. Behavioral health programs have contributed to a reduced number of long-term disability claims. Obesity and stress continue to be significant contributors to heart disease and other issues.