Overview of work disability in rheumatoid arthritis patients as observed in cross‐sectional and longitudinal surveys

Verstappen, Suzanne M M; Bijlsma, J. W. J.; Verkleij, Harry; Buskens, Erik; Blaauw, A. A. M.; Borg, E. J. Ter; Jacobs, Johannes W. G.

doi:10.1002/art.20419

Cited by 189 publications

(220 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Work disability is related to multiple factors, including disease severity, work characteristics, and demographic characteristics (21). In particular, it is difficult to quantify work disability in economic terms for persons who do not work for pay.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although many studies have explored the relationship between deterioration in physical function and work disability in RA (20,21), very few studies have examined the question of whether improvement in physical function during effective treatment affects the employability of patients. Employability comprises the selfassessed working capacity of individuals and, therefore, expands the scope of employment status to include persons who regard themselves as able to work despite having not actually entered the workforce.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Infliximab treatment maintains employability in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Smolen

Han²,

Heijde

et al. 2006

Arthritis & Rheumatism

108

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Objective. To evaluate the impact of infliximab therapy on the employment status of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods. Methotrexate (MTX)-naive patients with active early RA were randomly allocated to receive MTX plus placebo or MTX plus infliximab (3 mg/kg or 6 mg/kg) at weeks 0, 2, and 6 and then every 8 weeks through week 46. Data for patients younger than age 65 years were included in the analyses. A patient was categorized as employable if he or she was employed or felt well enough to work if a job were available.Results. The change in actual employment was not significantly different between patients receiving MTX plus infliximab and those receiving MTX plus placebo (0.5% versus 1.3%; P > 0.5). However, the proportion of patients whose status changed from employable at baseline to unemployable at week 54 was smaller in the group receiving MTX plus infliximab compared with that in the group receiving MTX alone (8% versus 14%; P ‫؍‬ 0.05). Patients who were treated with infliximab plus MTX had a significantly greater likelihood of improvement rather than deterioration in employability (odds ratio 2.4; P < 0.001); this likelihood was not significantly greater in patients receiving MTX alone. The proportion of employed patients who lost workdays during the trial was smaller in the MTX plus infliximab group than in the MTX-alone group (P ‫؍‬ 0.010). Conclusion. The actual employment rates among patients in the 2 treatment groups were not different. However, patients with early RA who were treated with MTX plus infliximab had a higher probability of maintaining their employability compared with those who were treated with MTX alone.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Infliximab treatment maintains employability in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Smolen

Han²,

Heijde

et al. 2006

Arthritis & Rheumatism

108

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Predictors most frequently identified include demographic markers (e.g., older age, less education), disease markers (e.g., long disease duration, high functional disability, high disease activity), and job markers (e.g., manual or physically demanding jobs) (24,25). The importance of contextual factors in job retention (e.g., family support, telling coworkers about RA) is also recognized, but often difficult to capture (26 -28).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work Productivity Loss in Early Arthritis During the First 3 Years of Disease: A Study From a French National Multicenter Cohort

Dadoun

Guillemin

Lucier³

et al. 2014

Arthritis Care & Research

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Objective. To assess work productivity (WP) loss during the first 3 years of disease in a cohort of patients with early arthritis (EA) diagnosed between 2002 and 2005. Methods. The ESPOIR (Etude et Suivi des Polyarthrites Indifférenciées Récentes) cohort included 813 EA patients; we included those of working age at baseline in the present study. WP loss was assessed by 3 components: sick leave, permanent disability, and early retirement. The proportion of affected patients and the mean number of days off work were assessed for each component. WP costs were estimated and determinants of positive and extreme costs were assessed by logistic regression models. Results. Among the 664 patients included, 81.6% were in the workforce at baseline. During the first 3 years of disease, 45% reported at least 1 sick leave day and 11% reported permanent disability. Only a few patients (1%) reported early retirement. The mean number of days on sick leave due to EA decreased regularly from 44 to 13, whereas the mean number of days on permanent disability tripled from 10 to 33. The mean annual cost was €1,333 (95% confidence interval €1,075-1,620). Sick leave longer than 30 days due to EA before inclusion and a decrease in mental and physical scores of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 at inclusion were independent determinants of positive and extreme costs in multivariate models. Conclusion. WP loss is substantial in EA patients and is due to permanent disability before the third year of disease. Work absence and poor mental and physical health status at baseline are major determinants of WP costs.

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“…Many studies have highlighted the devastating emotional and economic consequences of unemployment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Most studies have focused on job loss and vocational rehabilitation and have identified predictors of adverse work outcomes, including older age, less education, less social support, not wanting to work, multiple social roles, and more depressive symptoms (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal study of negative workplace events among employed rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls

Mancuso¹,

Rincon²,

Sayles³

et al. 2005

Arthritis & Rheumatism

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Objective. Most studies of employment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have focused on job loss. Less is known about workplace events in patients who continued to work. The goal of this longitudinal study was to compare the incidence of negative workplace events between employed patients with RA and healthy controls. Methods. Participants completed the work domains of the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview Life EventsScale and the Inventory of Small Life Events Scale measuring major and minor workplace events. Events were compared between groups according to psychosocial, clinical, and job characteristics. Results. A total of 122 patients with RA and 122 healthy controls were enrolled with similar demographic and occupational characteristics. There were no differences in percentages of patients and controls who had at least 1 major (35% versus 31%) or 1 minor (48% versus 55%) negative event. For patients with RA, negative events were associated with having more pain, more fatigue, more social stress, and less job autonomy (P < 0.05). For controls, in addition to social stress, negative events were associated with job characteristics, functional status, and social support (P < 0.05). Conclusion. A comparable number of patients with RA and controls had negative workplace events. In addition to the well-known contributions of job autonomy and pain, social stress and fatigue also were found to be important variables related to negative events in patients with RA. These potentially modifiable variables have not been fully evaluated with respect to long-term employment in these patients.

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Overview of work disability in rheumatoid arthritis patients as observed in cross‐sectional and longitudinal surveys

Cited by 189 publications

References 33 publications

Infliximab treatment maintains employability in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Infliximab treatment maintains employability in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Work Productivity Loss in Early Arthritis During the First 3 Years of Disease: A Study From a French National Multicenter Cohort

Longitudinal study of negative workplace events among employed rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls

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