Ling Xiang1, Andrea H L Low1,2,3, Ying Ying Leung1,2,3, Warren Fong1,2,3, Wee Hoe Gan4, Nicholas Graves5, Julian Thumboo1,2,3. 1. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore City, Singapore. 2. Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore City, Singapore. 3. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore. 4. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore City, Singapore. 5. Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore City, Singapore.
Abstract
AIM: We aimed to characterize work disability in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatic diseases and compare work characteristics between patients with rheumatic diseases and controls without rheumatic diseases at diagnosis. METHODS: Patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and osteoarthritis (OA), surrogates for autoimmune and non-autoimmune rheumatic diseases, respectively, and controls of working age were surveyed at diagnosis. Patients with rheumatic diseases who were employed before symptom onset were characterized as having work disability if they reported reduced work ability and productivity while remaining in the same job as before symptom onset, changed to a less demanding job or stopped working/retired. Work characteristics at diagnosis were compared between rheumatic diseases patients and controls. RESULTS: The unemployment rate before symptom onset was lower in patients with IA (20%) compared to patients with OA (32%). Among patients with IA and OA who were employed before symptom onset, 59% and 43% reported work disability, respectively (P = .04). The unemployment rate at diagnosis was comparable in patients with IA (26%) and higher in patients with OA (38%) compared to controls (29%). Employed patients with IA and OA, when compared with controls, reported poorer work ability (score: 37 vs 39 vs 41, P < .01; proportion with poor/moderate work ability: 48% vs 33% vs 21%, P < .01) and greater work productivity loss (score: 32 vs 29 vs 17, P < .01) at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Rheumatic diseases impose significant work disability at diagnosis, highlighting the need for identification and interventions targeting work disability early in the course of disease.
AIM: We aimed to characterize work disability in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatic diseases and compare work characteristics between patients with rheumatic diseases and controls without rheumatic diseases at diagnosis. METHODS:Patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and osteoarthritis (OA), surrogates for autoimmune and non-autoimmune rheumatic diseases, respectively, and controls of working age were surveyed at diagnosis. Patients with rheumatic diseases who were employed before symptom onset were characterized as having work disability if they reported reduced work ability and productivity while remaining in the same job as before symptom onset, changed to a less demanding job or stopped working/retired. Work characteristics at diagnosis were compared between rheumatic diseasespatients and controls. RESULTS: The unemployment rate before symptom onset was lower in patients with IA (20%) compared to patients with OA (32%). Among patients with IA and OA who were employed before symptom onset, 59% and 43% reported work disability, respectively (P = .04). The unemployment rate at diagnosis was comparable in patients with IA (26%) and higher in patients with OA (38%) compared to controls (29%). Employed patients with IA and OA, when compared with controls, reported poorer work ability (score: 37 vs 39 vs 41, P < .01; proportion with poor/moderate work ability: 48% vs 33% vs 21%, P < .01) and greater work productivity loss (score: 32 vs 29 vs 17, P < .01) at diagnosis. CONCLUSION:Rheumatic diseases impose significant work disability at diagnosis, highlighting the need for identification and interventions targeting work disability early in the course of disease.
Authors: Sandra Haider; Michael Sedlak; Ali Kapan; Igor Grabovac; Thomas Lamprecht; Ludwig Erlacher; Michael Quittan; Karl Heinrich Fenzl; Thomas Ernst Dorner Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-03 Impact factor: 3.390