Comparison of work disability and health-related quality of life between males and females with rheumatoid arthritis below the age of 45 years

Objectives: To compare work disability (WD) and health status between males and females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the age group 18-45 years, and to compare health status between patients with and without WD within each gender, and finally to identify factors independently associated with WD...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of rheumatology 2009-01, Vol.38 (3), p.178-183
Main Authors: Wallenius, M., Skomsvoll, J. F., Koldingsnes, W., Rødevand, E., Mikkelsen, K., Kaufmann, C., Kvien, T. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - epidemiology
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - radiotherapy
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disability Evaluation
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Employment - statistics & numerical data
Female
Health Status
Humans
Inflammatory joint diseases
Logistic Models
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Risk Factors
Sex Characteristics
Sex Distribution
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:Objectives: To compare work disability (WD) and health status between males and females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the age group 18-45 years, and to compare health status between patients with and without WD within each gender, and finally to identify factors independently associated with WD in this age group. Methods: A cross-sectional study of RA patients at the time starting with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy and or biological treatment. Patients receiving a permanent, national WD pension corresponding to 50% were defined as work disabled. We examined gender differences with regard to disease characteristics, health status and WD. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson's 2-test were applied for group comparisons. Multiple logistic regression analyses with adjustments for duration of education, disease duration, age, erosive disease, disability score [using the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ)], Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) mental health score and gender were used to identify variables associated with WD. Results: Out of 474 (372 females) patients, the number (%) of work-disabled females males was 91 (24.7) 8 (8.1) (p
ISSN:0300-9742
1502-7732
DOI:10.1080/03009740802400594