Objective: To identify the socioeconomic status through occupation of a large cohort of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to determine possible relationships between occupation and clinical variables.
Methods: We analyzed the employment status of 1,044 patients with AS.
Results: 85% of patients (890 of 1,044) were in full employment at the time of the assessment compared to 15% who were unemployed. When 50 employed patients were compared to 50 unemployed cases, the latter had increased disease activity and lower psychosocial well being.
Conclusion: Employed patients from the higher occupational group (I), had less disease activity, and lower pain and depression than patients from the lowest occupational group (IV).