OBJECTIVES: To study education, employment, absenteeism, and work disability (WD) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to population controls. METHOD: The study included 181 women of working age with SLE (mean age 44.0 years, disease duration 12.7 years) and 549 female population controls matched for age living in the same metropolitan area of Helsinki. Data regarding education, employment, absenteeism, and WD in patients and controls were obtained by questionnaire and personal interview. RESULTS: Basic education, vocational, or academic degrees and occupational categories in patients with SLE were similar to those in controls. In total, 62% of the patients were employed, compared to 77% of the controls (p < 0.001). During the preceding 12 months, employed SLE patients had been on sick leave for 25.4 days vs. 10.2 days in controls (p < 0.001). Subjective work ability regarding physical and mental demands of the job were lower in SLE patients than in controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.036, respectively). The rate of permanent WD, defined as receiving disability benefits, was 34.3% in SLE patients vs. 10.3% in controls (p < 0.001). Cumulative WD due to SLE 5, 10, and 20 years after the clinical diagnosis was 13, 22, and 47%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SLE does not seem to affect educational achievements and the employment rate for SLE patients is reasonably high. Absenteeism and work disability are, however, 2-3 times more common than in controls. Less than half of the patients were on permanent disability pension due to SLE 20 years after diagnosis of the disease.
OBJECTIVES: To study education, employment, absenteeism, and work disability (WD) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to population controls. METHOD: The study included 181 women of working age with SLE (mean age 44.0 years, disease duration 12.7 years) and 549 female population controls matched for age living in the same metropolitan area of Helsinki. Data regarding education, employment, absenteeism, and WD in patients and controls were obtained by questionnaire and personal interview. RESULTS: Basic education, vocational, or academic degrees and occupational categories in patients with SLE were similar to those in controls. In total, 62% of the patients were employed, compared to 77% of the controls (p < 0.001). During the preceding 12 months, employed SLEpatients had been on sick leave for 25.4 days vs. 10.2 days in controls (p < 0.001). Subjective work ability regarding physical and mental demands of the job were lower in SLEpatients than in controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.036, respectively). The rate of permanent WD, defined as receiving disability benefits, was 34.3% in SLEpatients vs. 10.3% in controls (p < 0.001). Cumulative WD due to SLE 5, 10, and 20 years after the clinical diagnosis was 13, 22, and 47%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:SLE does not seem to affect educational achievements and the employment rate for SLEpatients is reasonably high. Absenteeism and work disability are, however, 2-3 times more common than in controls. Less than half of the patients were on permanent disability pension due to SLE 20 years after diagnosis of the disease.
Authors: Birgit S Blomjous; Gayle R S Gajadin; Alexandre E Voskuyl; Louise Falzon; Jan L Hoving; Irene E M Bultink; Marieke M Ter Wee Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2022-07-06 Impact factor: 7.046
Authors: Kyriaki Keramiotou; Christos Anagnostou; Evangelia Kataxaki; Antonios Galanos; Petros P Sfikakis; Maria G Tektonidou Journal: RMD Open Date: 2020-01