TY - JOUR T1 - Sex and Gender Interactions in the Lives of Patients with Spondyloarthritis in Spain: A Quantitative-qualitative Study JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol DO - 10.3899/jrheum.170128 SP - jrheum.170128 AU - Mar Blasco-Blasco AU - María Teresa Ruiz-Cantero AU - Lucero Aida Juárez-Herrera y Cairo AU - Vega Jovaní AU - Eliseo Pascual Y1 - 2017/07/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2017/06/26/jrheum.170128.abstract N2 - Objective To illustrate the experiences and contextual support perceived by men and women with spondyloarthritis (SpA) in relation to their demanding productive and reproductive roles. Methods A quantitative-qualitative study of 96 men and 54 women with SpA was conducted at the Alicante University General Hospital, in a Spanish Mediterranean city, from March 2013 to February 2014. Descriptive and qualitative content analyses compared working lives and family/partner relationships of male and female patients. Results Working life: both women (55.6%) and men (51.04%) were similarly affected, but women had worse disease activity (5.4 vs 4.0, p = 0.01) and less antitumor necrosis factor-α therapy (56.7% vs 77.6%, p < 0.05). Different patterns were found by gender: women mostly practiced presenteeism whereas men practiced absenteeism, women took antiinflammatories prior to work and men after work, employers suggested more frequently the beneficial actions for men, and some women withdrew permanently from the labor market. Family/partner relationships: women were more affected (57.4%) than men (41.7%), with worse results for diagnostic delay (11.2 vs 6.4 yrs, p = 0.02), disease activity (5.8 vs 3.6, p < 0.001), and physical function (5.2 vs 3.8, p = 0.02). Gender role conflicts emerged, with women developing strategies to face compulsory housework whereas men avoided them; women regretted neglecting their children and men not sharing leisure activities with them. Conclusion Our study highlights the vital complexity in which patients with SpA are immersed, especially for women in a country where a mix of new and traditional gender roles coexist. Awareness of its existence is crucial when professionals strive to provide healthcare focused on their well-being in addition to medical therapy. ER -