RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Understanding the Disease Burden of Unemployed Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the Spanish Atlas 2017
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 373
OP 379
DO 10.3899/jrheum.210655
VO 49
IS 4
A1 Marco Garrido-Cumbrera
A1 Eduardo Collantes-Estevez
A1 Victoria Navarro-Compán
A1 Pedro Zarco-Montejo
A1 Carlos Sastre
A1 José Correa-Fernández
A1 Sergio Sanz-Gómez
A1 Pedro Plazuelo-Ramos
A1 Jordi Gratacos
YR 2022
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/49/4/373.abstract
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.