Work productivity in a population based cohort of patients with Spondyloarthritis

• Background: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) often causes impaired function, activity limitations, affected health related quality of life and work disability. Work disability has been shown to be affected both in terms of absenteeism and in impaired productivity while working (presenteeism). In this group with increased socioeconomic costs there is also an increase in  the use of expensive pharmacotherapies. Thus, it is important to study factors related to the ability to stay productive while at work.Objective: The aim was to study factors associated with presenteeism in patients with SpA. Also to analyse possible differences in age, gender and SpA subtypes (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and undifferentiated SpA).Methods: The analysis was based on 1773 patients seeking health care for SpA aged 18-67 years from southern Sweden, identified by a health care register. A questionnaire survey in 2009 included questions concerning self-reported presenteeism, defined as the percentage of impairment due to SpA while working 0-100, (0=no impact), was answered by 1447 individuals. Patients´ characteristics: disease duration, disease activity (BASDAI), physical function (BASFI), health related quality of life (EQ-5D), anxiety (HAD-a), depression (HAD-d), self-efficacy pain and symptom (ASES) and register based sick leave. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient and univariate analyses with ANOVA were used to study factors associated with presenteeism and t-test was used for group comparisons.Results: Fifty-five percent (n=802/1447) reported no impact on work presenteeism, while mean impairment was 20 (95% CI 18-21) (n=1447). Women reported higher impact on work presenteeism than men (mean impairment 23 vs. 17, p<0.001) but no statistically significant differences were found between the SpA subtype groups. Twenty-eight percent (n=504/1773) were registered for any sick leave (absenteeism > 14 days). Worse outcome in quality of life (EQ-5D), disease activity (BASDAI) and physical function (BASFI) all correlated to higher impact on work presenteeism (r >0.5, p <0.001), while sick leave (absenteeism) did not.  In the univariate analyses experiencing worse outcome in EQ-5D (β-est -9.6, p<0.001) BASDAI (β-est 7.8, p<0.001) and BASFI (β-est 7.3, p<0.001) were all associated to higher impact on presenteeism regardless of age, gender and disease subtype. Worse outcome of EQ-5D was associated to a higher degree impact on presenteeism in the younger women (18-52 yrs). Self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, disease duration and education level <12 years were all associated to higher impact on presenteeism but were not significant in all strata for age, gender and disease subtype.Conclusion: Quality of life, disease activity and physical function all affect work presenteeism in patients with SpA, regardless of age, gender and disease subtype. The results indicate that work presenteeism is affected in patients with all types of SpA and more affected in women. We also find that presenteeism and register based sick leave (absenteeism) may be related to different dimensions of the individuals and their disease.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine (hsv//eng)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)