Work disability in rheumatic diseases: Baseline results from an inception cohort

• Published in: International journal of rheumatic diseases 2020-08, Vol.23 (8), p.1040-1049
• Main Authors: Xiang, Ling, Low, Andrea H. L., Leung, Ying Ying, Fong, Warren, Gan, Wee Hoe, Graves, Nicholas, Thumboo, Julian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arthritis; Diagnosis; Economic conditions; Inflammation; inflammatory arthritis; Osteoarthritis; psoriatic arthritis; Rheumatic diseases; rheumatoid arthritis; spondyloarthritis; Unemployment; work disability
• ISSN: 1756-1841; 1756-185X
• DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.13864

Aim We aimed to characterize work disability in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatic diseases and compare work characteristics between patients with rheumatic diseases and controls without rheumatic diseases at diagnosis. Methods Patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and osteoarthritis (OA), surrogates for autoimmune and non‐autoimmune rheumatic diseases, respectively, and controls of working age were surveyed at diagnosis. Patients with rheumatic diseases who were employed before symptom onset were characterized as having work disability if they reported reduced work ability and productivity while remaining in the same job as before symptom onset, changed to a less demanding job or stopped working/retired. Work characteristics at diagnosis were compared between rheumatic diseases patients and controls. Results The unemployment rate before symptom onset was lower in patients with IA (20%) compared to patients with OA (32%). Among patients with IA and OA who were employed before symptom onset, 59% and 43% reported work disability, respectively (P = .04). The unemployment rate at diagnosis was comparable in patients with IA (26%) and higher in patients with OA (38%) compared to controls (29%). Employed patients with IA and OA, when compared with controls, reported poorer work ability (score: 37 vs 39 vs 41, P