Correlates of Formal Work Disability in an Urban University Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Practice

Objective Work disability in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been sparsely studied. We sought to determine the demographic, disease-specific, and psychological features associated with work disability in patients with SLE at our medical center. Methods Ambulatory patients with SLE were enroll...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of rheumatology 2008-06, Vol.35 (6), p.1046-1052
Main Authors: UTSET, Tammy O, CHOHAN, Saima, BOOTH, Stephanie A, LAUGHLIN, Janelle C, KOCHERGINSKY, Masha, SCHMITZ, Amanda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Medical Centers
Adult
African Americans
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Educational Status
Fatigue - complications
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - ethnology
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - psychology
Male
Marital Status
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases
Outpatients
Risk Factors
Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
Severity of Illness Index
Sick Leave
Urban Population
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Summary:Objective Work disability in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been sparsely studied. We sought to determine the demographic, disease-specific, and psychological features associated with work disability in patients with SLE at our medical center. Methods Ambulatory patients with SLE were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Data collected by standardized interview, examination, questionnaire, and chart review were compared between formally work-disabled and never-disabled subjects. Multivariate logistic regression with outcome of formal work disability was then performed, using significant variables on univariate analysis. Results One hundred thirty-two of 143 subjects were working or students at time of SLE diagnosis. After a mean of 9.2 years’ disease duration, 42.7% reported formal work disability due to SLE. On univariate analysis, lower education, African American ethnicity, marital status, and high disease activity and damage scores were associated with increased prevalence of work disability. Work type did not affect risk of work disability. Work-disabled subjects had more severe pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. On multivariate logistic regression, damage, African American ethnicity, and fatigue were associated with formal work disability, while global pain had a marginal association. Conclusion Formal work disability was highly prevalent in SLE, occurring in 42.7% of subjects. Disease damage, global pain, and fatigue were independently associated with formal work disability status on multivariate logistic regression. Premorbid work types did not strikingly influence rates of work disability. Key Indexing Terms: WORK DISABILITY SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS DEMOGRAPHICS
ISSN:0315-162X
1499-2752