The Effect of Disease Site (Knee, Hip, Hand, Foot, Lower Back or Neck) on Employment Reduction Due to Osteoarthritis

Abstract

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) has a significant impact on individuals' ability to work. Our goal was to investigate the effects of the site of OA (knee, hip, hand, foot, lower back or neck) on employment reduction due to OA (EROA).Methods and FindingsThis study involved a random sample of 6,000 patients with OA selected from the Medical Service Plan database in British Columbia, Canada. A total of 5,491 were alive and had valid addresses, and of these, 2,259 responded (response rate = 41%), from which 2,134 provided usable data. Eligible participants were 19 or older with physician diagnosed OA based on administrative data between 1992 and 2006. Data of 688 residents were used (mean age 62.1 years (27 to 86); 60% women). EROA had three levels: no reduction; reduced hours; and total cessation due to OA. The (log) odds of EROA was regressed on OA sites, adjusting for age, sex, education and comorbidity. Odds ratios (ORs) represented the effect predicting total cessation and reduced hours/total cessation. The strongest effect was found in lower back OA, with OR = 2.08 (95% CI: 1.47, 2.94), followed by neck (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.27) and knee (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.01). We found an interaction between sex and foot OA (men: OR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.05, 3.59; women: OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.57, 1.39). No significant effect was found for hip OA (OR = 1.33) or hand OA (OR = 1.11). Limitations of this study included a modest response rate, the lack of an OA negative group, the use of administrative databases to identify eligible participants, and the use of patient self-reported data.ConclusionsAfter adjusting for socio-demographic variables, comorbidity, and other OA disease sites, we find that OA of the lower back, neck and knee are significant predictors for EROA. Foot OA is only significantly associated with EROA in males. For multi-site combinations, ORs are multiplicative. These findings may be used to guide resource allocation for future development/improvement of vocational rehabilitation programs for site-specific OA.

Assessing the magnitude of osteoarthritis disadvantage on people's lives: the MOVES study

“…Employment reduction due to OA might also be dependent on the site affected by OA. 34 In the US study, 4 workers with OA pain reported significantly lower SF-12 health status when compared to workers without OA pain. Likewise, we also found lower scores on physical components which, not surprisingly, have been proved to be associated to pain, since OA and pain affect physical functioning.…”

Avaliação da magnitude da desvantagem da osteoartrite na vida das pessoas: estudo MOVES

“…A redução do emprego em decorrência da OA pode também depender do local afetado pela doença. 34 No estudo norte-americano, 4 trabalhadores com dor causada pela OA relataram um estado de saúde significativamente pior (medido por SF-12), em comparação com trabalhadores sem dor causada pela doença.…”

Enhanced targeting efficiency of PLGA microspheres loaded with Lornoxicam for intra-articular administration

“…Fransen 2010;Sayre et al 2010). The incidence of OA increases with age, approximately 100% of men and women at age 75-79 years show some signs of OA (Reva C. Lawrence1 1998).…”