Philippe Bertin1, Francis Fagnani2, Anne Duburcq2, Anne-Sophie Woronoff3, Pierre Chauvin4, Gabrielle Cukierman5, Sonia Tropé-Chirol3, Jean-Michel Joubert6, Gisela Kobelt7. 1. CHU Dupuytren, 87000 Limoges, France. 2. Cemka-Eval, 92340 Bourg-la-Reine, France. 3. ANDAR, 75012 Paris, France. 4. Inserm, UMR_S 1136, institut Pierre-Louis d'épidémiologie et de santé publique, 75646 Paris cedex 13, France; Sorbonne universités, UPMC université Paris 06, UMR_S 1136, 75654 Paris cedex 13, France. 5. UCB Pharma, défense Ouest, 420, rue d'Estienne-d'Orves, 92705 Colombes cedex, France. Electronic address: Gabrielle.cukierman@ucb.com. 6. UCB Pharma, défense Ouest, 420, rue d'Estienne-d'Orves, 92705 Colombes cedex, France. 7. Inserm, UMR_S 1136, institut Pierre-Louis d'épidémiologie et de santé publique, 75646 Paris cedex 13, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on career, productivity, and employability. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012-2013 in France among patients with RA who were younger than 60 years of age and employed or unemployed. Patients were either recruited during a rheumatologist visit or among members of a nationwide patient-support organization (ANDAR). They completed a questionnaire on the functional impact of RA evaluated by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and on the impact of their disease on work ability. RESULTS: Of 488 surveyed patients, 364 (74.6%) were actively employed, 31 (6.4%) were job seekers, and 93 (19.1%) had left the workforce. In the employed group, mean age was 48.9 years; 82.1% of patients were women; mean RA duration was 11.6 years; and the HAQ score correlated strongly with various markers for decreased productivity including sick leaves, temporary or permanent work discontinuation, and having unwillingly downgraded from a full-time to a part-time work schedule or changed to a different job. Among job seekers, 54% had lost their previous job because of their RA. CONCLUSION: RA is associated with various forms of work disability, which are directly related to the severity of disease-related functional impairments.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on career, productivity, and employability. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012-2013 in France among patients with RA who were younger than 60 years of age and employed or unemployed. Patients were either recruited during a rheumatologist visit or among members of a nationwide patient-support organization (ANDAR). They completed a questionnaire on the functional impact of RA evaluated by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and on the impact of their disease on work ability. RESULTS: Of 488 surveyed patients, 364 (74.6%) were actively employed, 31 (6.4%) were job seekers, and 93 (19.1%) had left the workforce. In the employed group, mean age was 48.9 years; 82.1% of patients were women; mean RA duration was 11.6 years; and the HAQ score correlated strongly with various markers for decreased productivity including sick leaves, temporary or permanent work discontinuation, and having unwillingly downgraded from a full-time to a part-time work schedule or changed to a different job. Among job seekers, 54% had lost their previous job because of their RA. CONCLUSION: RA is associated with various forms of work disability, which are directly related to the severity of disease-related functional impairments.
Authors: Lillian Barra; Renée L Borchin; Cristina Burroughs; George C Casey; Carol A McAlear; Antoine G Sreih; Kalen Young; Peter A Merkel; Christian Pagnoux Journal: Clin Exp Rheumatol Date: 2018-01-10 Impact factor: 4.473
Authors: Rieke Alten; Mart van de Laar; Francesco De Leonardis; Nicole Tietz; Mariana Guerreiro; Ronald van Vollenhoven Journal: Rheumatol Ther Date: 2019-10-28