Work disability in fibromyalgia and other soft tissue disorders: analysis of preventive benefits in Brazil from 2006 to 2015

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia is a common chronic disease characterized by persistent diffuse pain, fatigue, sleep disorders and functional symptoms. The disease can have negative consequences in personal and social life, in addition to significant public health expenses caused by treatment and work leave. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the number of social security benefits granted due to incapacity for work in Brazil in patients with ICD M79 and variants in the period 2006-2015.There has been no previous study with data referring to work withdrawals caused by fibromyalgia in Brazil. Methods: Data for this study were obtained through an official Social Security platform. The disability and retirement benefits were analyzed. Results: A total of 95,882 social security disability benefits were granted to ICD M79 and variants in the period from 2006 to 2015. Regarding gender, 69,420 benefits (72.3%) were granted to women and 26,562 (27.7%) to men. Regarding the types of benefits, we found 93,556 (97.5%) temporary withdrawals from work and 2426 (2.5%) permanent withdrawals. When comparing the initial and final years, we observed a significant reduction in the number of awards: 15,562 in 2006 to 6163 in 2015. Conclusion: Fibromyalgia was an important cause of withdrawal due to incapacity for work in Brazil, with consequent public health expenditure. These data may serve as a basis for new studies and can alert professionals of the need for adequate management of fibromyalgia to reduce work withdrawal and its consequences.

Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective

“…Studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria included those that, for example: i) dealt only with the indirect or direct costs of fibromyalgia or health care utilization; 7,9,14,[17][18][19][21][22][23]25,26,[40][41][42][43][44][45] ii) dealt only with fibromyalgia symptoms; 6,46 iii) were not specific enough to fibromyalgia; 47-49 iv) were not qualitative; 50,51 v) were reviews; 33,34,39,[52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] vi) were commentaries; 61-64 vii) were related to fibromyalgia pathophysiology, 65 psychophysiology, 66 or psychobiological models; 67 viii) dealt with disability-or activity-related issues but not in a manner that specifically addressed patients' subjective attitudes towards work; [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76] ix) related to fibromyalgia etiology with respect to work; 77,78 x) studied the effects of therapies; [79][80][81]…”

The correlation between the ACR questionnaire and fitness for work of fibromyalgia patients

“…Beside the main symptom of widespread pain, the FM syndrome is manifested by neuropsychological symptoms such as fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, impaired memory and concentration, anxiety, and depression (2). The FM syndrome can have negative implications on one's personal and social life and lead to significant public expenses on healthcare and work leave (3). The diagnostic criteria for FM were originally published in 1990 and included tenderness on pressure in at least 11 of 18 defined anatomic sites (tender points) with the presence of widespread pain (4).…”