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Work disability in ankylosing spondylitis: differences among working and work-disabled patients

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Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton. Work disability can be one of the major consequences of AS, and the knowledge about the burden of AS to the patient and society is not well-established yet. The objective of this study was to investigate work disability among patients with AS in the national service and to put forward the related factors and differences among disabled and nondisabled groups. A total of 121 male AS patients were included in the study. Patient demographics and duration of disease were noted, and employment status and disability were questioned. Measures of functionality, axial mobility, health-related quality of life, and depression were used. It was found that 38 patients (31.4%) continued their work lives with no change, 54 patients (44.6%) changed to a lighter job, and 29 patients (24%) were retired due to AS. Differences in age at onset of the disease, time since the diagnosis, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and hip involvement were statistically significant. The mean retirement age of the patients was 36 ± 4.2 years. Frequency of hip involvement was higher in the work-disabled group. Spine was evidently affected more seriously, and CRP values were higher in the work-disabled group. Older age at onset, longer time since the diagnosis, longer diagnosis delay, and some physical impairments like decrease in spinal mobility and hip involvement may preclude AS patients from leading a productive work life.

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Disclosures

There is no financial or other relationship that might be perceived as leading to conflict of interest (i.e., affecting author objectivity). The manuscript has been read and approved by all authors, and that all named authors meet the criteria stated in the instructions for authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Engin Cakar, Umit Dincer, Mehmet Zeki Kiralp & Oguz Durmus

  2. TSK Rehabilitation Center, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Mehmet Ali Taskaynatan & Ahmet Ozgül

  3. GATA Haydarpasa Egitim Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Klinigi, 34668, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey

    Engin Cakar

Authors
  1. Engin Cakar
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  2. Mehmet Ali Taskaynatan
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  3. Umit Dincer
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  4. Mehmet Zeki Kiralp
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  5. Oguz Durmus
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  6. Ahmet Ozgül
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Correspondence to Engin Cakar.

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Cakar, E., Taskaynatan, M.A., Dincer, U. et al. Work disability in ankylosing spondylitis: differences among working and work-disabled patients. Clin Rheumatol 28, 1309–1314 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-009-1249-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-009-1249-1

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