Employment among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis-A Population Study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate demographic and clinical factors associated with employment in MS.MethodsThe study included 213 (89.9%) of all MS patients in Sogn and Fjordane County, Western Norway at December 31st 2010. The patients underwent clinical evaluation, structured interviews and completed self-reported questionnaires. Demographic and clinical factors were compared between patients being employed versus patients being unemployed and according to disease course of MS. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with current employment.ResultsAfter a mean disease duration of almost 19 years, 45% of the population was currently full-time or part- time employed. Patients with relapsing –remitting MS (RRMS) had higher employment rate than patients with secondary (SPMS) and primary progressive (PPMS). Higher educated MS patients with lower age at onset, shorter disease duration, less severe disability and less fatigue were most likely to be employed.ConclusionsNearly half of all MS patients were still employed after almost two decades of having MS. Lower age at onset, shorter disease duration, higher education, less fatigue and less disability were independently associated with current employment. These key clinical and demographic factors are important to understand the reasons to work ability in MS. The findings highlight the need for environmental adjustments at the workplace to accommodate individual ’s needs in order to improve working ability among MS patients.

The Impact of Disease-Modifying Therapy Access Barriers on People With Multiple Sclerosis: Mixed-Methods Study (Preprint)

“…Similar to other studies with MS patients, patients in this study reported that before the DMT issue, many had to reduce or stop working due to functional cognitive decline related to MS [4][5][6]44,45]. Noting the burden of cost, paperwork, and benefit changes on MS patients trying to obtain DMT, medication advocacy organizations and provider groups have called for system-wide transparency, lower drug prices for DMTs, and policy reforms to assist MS patients with the cost burden of their care [8,46,47].…”

“…The financial burden accompanying MS is a central component of the disease experience, ranking second among all chronic conditions in direct costs behind congestive heart failure [3]. In addition to the impact of decreased productivity and unemployment [4][5][6], patients often shoulder the burden of high outof-pocket costs for medications, tests, MRIs, medical equipment, and inpatient/outpatient visits [3,7,8].…”

Multiple Sclerosis impact on employment and income in New Zealand

“…2,3,11,12 Ours and a more recent Norwegian study show risk of unemployment increases with age adjusted for disability, at least as measured by EDSS. 25 Interestingly, risk of unemployment increased with age, after adjusting for disability level, education, disease duration or disease course and the loss of a spouse or partner. Thus, these endogenous factors alone do not make employment increasingly difficult to maintain as people with MS age.…”

Impact of increasing adherence to disease-modifying therapies on healthcare resource utilization and direct medical and indirect work loss costs for patients with multiple sclerosis

“…A recent study found that the MS population was $3-times more likely to not be employed in a given year than a non-MS population 1 . It has been estimated that 55-80% of individuals with MS retire early after their diagnosis; the work ability varies with MS sub-types 4,5 . Furthermore, the disabling nature of MS imposes a considerable indirect cost burden on employers 6 .…”