Gonca Mumcu1, Meral Yay2, Aysun Aksoy3, Mehmet Nedim Taş4, Berkan Armağan5, Alper Sarı5, Burçin Cansu Bozca6, Emre Tekgöz7, Duygu Temiz Karadağ8, Suade Özlem Badak9, Duygu Tecer10, Cemal Bes11, Ali Şahin12, Eren Erken9, Ayse Cefle8, Muhammet Çınar7, Sedat Yılmaz7, Ümit Karaçaylı13, Erkan Alpsoy6, Soner Şenel14, Şule Yaşar Bilge15, Timuçin Kaşifoğlu15, Ömer Karadağ5, Kenan Aksu4, Gökhan Keser4, Fatma Alibaz-Öner3, Nevsun İnanç3, Tülin Ergun16, Haner Direskeneli3. 1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. 2. Department of Statistics, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, Turkey. 3. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. 4. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. 5. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. 6. Dermatology Department, Medical School, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. 7. Gulhane Medical Faculty, Division of Rheumatology, Gulhane Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 8. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. 9. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. 10. Şanlıurfa Mehmet Akif İnan Education and Research Hospital, Sanlıurfa, Turkey. 11. Rheumatology Clinic, Istanbul Bakırköy Dr.Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. 12. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. 13. Gulhane Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ankara, Turkey. 14. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. 15. Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. 16. Dermatology Department, Medical School, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this multi-center study was to assess predictive factors for work-day loss as an indirect cost element in Behçet's syndrome (BS). METHODS: In this cross-sectional, multi-center study, 834 BS patients (F/M: 441/393, age mean: 38.4 ± 10.9 years) were included. Data were collected by a questionnaire regarding treatment protocols, disease duration, smoking pattern, frequency of medical visits during the previous year and self-reported work-day loss during the previous year. RESULTS: Work-day loss was observed in 16.2% of patients (M/F: 103/32). The percentages of being a smoker (81.8%), using immunosuppressive (IS) medications (82%), and having disease duration <5 years (74%) were higher in male patients with work-day loss (P < .05). The majority of males (90.9%) had more than four clinic visits during the previous year. Moreover, the mean work-day loss (30.8 ± 57.7 days) was higher in patients with vascular involvement (56.1 ± 85.9) than those without (26.4 ± 50.6 days) (P = .046). In addition, increased frequency of ocular involvement (25.9%) was also observed in patients with work-day loss compared to others (8.6%) (P = .059). CONCLUSION: Work-day loss was associated with both vascular and ocular involvement. Close associations were observed among male gender, early period of the disease, frequent medical visits, being a smoker and treatment with IS medications in patients with work-day loss.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this multi-center study was to assess predictive factors for work-day loss as an indirect cost element in Behçet's syndrome (BS). METHODS: In this cross-sectional, multi-center study, 834 BSpatients (F/M: 441/393, age mean: 38.4 ± 10.9 years) were included. Data were collected by a questionnaire regarding treatment protocols, disease duration, smoking pattern, frequency of medical visits during the previous year and self-reported work-day loss during the previous year. RESULTS: Work-day loss was observed in 16.2% of patients (M/F: 103/32). The percentages of being a smoker (81.8%), using immunosuppressive (IS) medications (82%), and having disease duration <5 years (74%) were higher in male patients with work-day loss (P < .05). The majority of males (90.9%) had more than four clinic visits during the previous year. Moreover, the mean work-day loss (30.8 ± 57.7 days) was higher in patients with vascular involvement (56.1 ± 85.9) than those without (26.4 ± 50.6 days) (P = .046). In addition, increased frequency of ocular involvement (25.9%) was also observed in patients with work-day loss compared to others (8.6%) (P = .059). CONCLUSION: Work-day loss was associated with both vascular and ocular involvement. Close associations were observed among male gender, early period of the disease, frequent medical visits, being a smoker and treatment with IS medications in patients with work-day loss.