PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Marco Garrido-Cumbrera
AU  - Eduardo Collantes-Estevez
AU  - Victoria Navarro-Compán
AU  - Pedro Zarco-Montejo
AU  - Carlos Sastre
AU  - José Correa-Fernández
AU  - Sergio Sanz-Gómez
AU  - Pedro Plazuelo-Ramos
AU  - Jordi Gratacos
TI  - Understanding the Disease Burden of Unemployed Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the Spanish Atlas 2017
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.210655
DP  - 2022 Apr 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 373--379
VI  - 49
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/49/4/373.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/49/4/373.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2022 Apr 01; 49
AB  - Objective To evaluate differences in sociodemographic factors and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between unemployed and employed patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and to explore work-related issues (WRIs).Methods Data from an online survey of 680 unselected patients of the Atlas of Axial Spondyloarthritis in Spain 2017 were analyzed. Active workforce participants were divided into employed and unemployed groups according to International Labour Organization definitions. Sociodemographic characteristics, PROs (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [0–10], Spinal Stiffness Index [3–12], Functional Limitation Index [0–54], and psychological distress through the 12-item General Health Questionnaire [0–12]) were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association with unemployment status.Results Four hundred fifteen (63.6%) patients with axSpA were categorized in the active population, of which 325 (78.3%) were employed and 90 (21.7%) unemployed. Of the unemployed patients, 62.8% (n = 54) declared that their joblessness was due to axSpA. Of the employed patients, 170 (54.3%) reported WRIs in the year prior to the survey, the most frequent being difficulty fulfilling working hours (44.1%), missing work for doctor appointments (42.9%), and taking sick leave (37.1%). Being unemployed was associated with lower educational level (OR = 2.92), disease activity (OR = 1.37), spinal stiffness (OR = 1.21), functional limitation (OR = 1.05), worse mental health (OR = 1.15), anxiety (OR = 2.02), and depression (OR = 2.69) in the univariable models; and with lower educational level (OR = 2.76) and worse mental health (OR = 1.15) in the multivariable analysis.Conclusion Results show significant differences between employed and unemployed patients with axSpA. Employed patients with axSpA endure many problems at work related to their condition, whereas unemployed patients present worse disease outcomes associated with greater psychological distress.