Socioeconomic impact of ankylosing spondylitis in Morocco

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine the impact of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) on the socioeconomic well-being of Moroccan patients. One hundred (100) consecutive AS patients (71 men, 29 women) were included. The socioeconomic consequences were studied by measuring direct costs, indirect costs (consequences on work capacity), and intangible costs (social impact) of AS. The mean age at AS onset was 26.85 years +/- 11.71 (7-64). The mean disease duration of AS was 12.05 years +/- 8.32 (0.5-39). Financial difficulties due to AS were observed in 82% of the patients. In 28% of them, these conditions explained a bad observance to treatments. In 14% of the cases, they led children to leave school to support their handicapped parents. Work disability occurred in 22.9% of initially employed patients. Withdrawal from work was correlated to bad social conditions at work, higher scores of Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and absence of adherence to a social security system. Sexual problems were present in 64.2% of the patients and were correlated to higher scores of BASFI. There were also disturbances in housekeeping (65.8%) and in leisure time activities (72.2%). Patients received a financial and a psychological familial support in, respectively, 66 and 87% of the cases. Despite the great familial support, Moroccan AS patients suffer from important socioeconomic consequences because of the illness, the bad socioeconomic conditions, the insufficiency of state help, and the social security problems.

Fatigue in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: prevalence and relationships with disease-specific variables, psychological status, and sleep disturbance

“…This study confirms that the Moroccans AS were active and severe [35][36][37], and states the importance of fatigue and psychological disorders in AS patients. Even though disease activity was the most powerful predictor of fatigue, the effects of psychogenic factors and sleep disturbance, should be taken into consideration in the management of AS.…”

Impact socioéconomique de la spondylarthrite ankylosante en Tunisie

“…Le coût indirect de la SPA apparaît très élevé selon les études [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. En effet, cette maladie entraîne un arrêt de travail annuel moyen de 6,5 à 62 jours par patient.…”

“…Dans une méta analyse [10], 27 % des malades sont admis en invalidité et pensionnés, 20,3 % changent de profession et 20,3 % abandonnent toute activité professionnelle. Rkain et al [12] rapportent un taux de 22,9 % d'arrêt de travail après une durée d'évolution moyenne de la SPA de 3,6 ans. Ce taux était de 32 % au bout de dix ans d'évolution pour Ozgül et al [2] et de 23 % au bout de 11 ans dans la série de Tam et al [19].…”

Evolution of the Quality of Life Concept in Morocco Case of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

“…Plusieurs études ont démontré que les spondyloarthropathies affectent profondément la qualité de vie des patients avec ses composantes physique, sociale et psychique. Un travail marocain publié en 2007 a mis le point sur l'impact majeur de la SPA sur le vécu journalier des patients, les difficultés de maintien de l'activité professionnelle et les conséquences négatives sur la vie familiale (conjoint et enfants) [17]. L'étude de la qualité de vie dans la SPA a été abordée également par différents travaux qui ont fait l'évaluation de manière transversale.…”