Cognitive function predicts work disability among multiple sclerosis patients

Background In multiple sclerosis various aspects of cognitive function can be detrimentally affected. More than that, patients´ employment and social functioning is likely to be impacted. Objective To determine whether work disability among multiple sclerosis patients could be predicted by the symbo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical translational and clinical, 2019-01, Vol.5 (1), p.2055217318822134-2055217318822134
Main Authors: Kavaliunas, Andrius, Tinghög, Petter, Friberg, Emilie, Olsson, Tomas, Alexanderson, Kristina, Hillert, Jan, Karrenbauer, Virginija Danylaite
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Binomial distribution
cognition
Cognitive ability
Confidence intervals
employment
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Multiple sclerosis
Original Research Paper
prognosis
socioeconomic factors
work
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Summary:Background In multiple sclerosis various aspects of cognitive function can be detrimentally affected. More than that, patients´ employment and social functioning is likely to be impacted. Objective To determine whether work disability among multiple sclerosis patients could be predicted by the symbol digit modalities test. Methods A register-based cohort study was conducted. Individual data on work disability, operationalised as annual net days of sickness absence and/or disability pension were retrieved at baseline, when the symbol digit modalities test was performed, after one-year and 3-year follow-up for 903 multiple sclerosis patients. The incidence rate ratios for work disability were calculated with general estimating equations using a negative binomial distribution and were adjusted for gender, age, educational level, family composition, type of living area and physical disability. Results After one year of follow-up, the patients in the lowest symbol digit modalities test quartile were estimated to have a 73% higher rate of work disability when compared to the patients in the highest symbol digit modalities test quartile (incidence rate ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.42‒2.10). This estimate after 3-year follow-up was similar (incidence rate ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval 1.40‒2.02). Conclusion Cognitive function is to a high extent associated with multiple sclerosis patients’ future work disability, even after adjusting for other factors.
ISSN:2055-2173
2055-2173
DOI:10.1177/2055217318822134