RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Work participation in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: high prevalence of negative workplace experiences and long-term work impairment
JF RMD Open
JO RMD Open
FD EULAR
SP e002663
DO 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002663
VO 9
IS 1
A1 Uta Kiltz
A1 Kirsten Hoeper
A1 Ludwig Hammel
A1 Sebastian Lieb
A1 Andreas Hähle
A1 Dirk Meyer-Olson
YR 2023
UL http://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/9/1/e002663.abstract
AB Introduction Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that typically affects people in their second and third decades of life, which are important years for establishing a professional career. We aim to study outcomes of work participation (WP) and their associations with demographic and clinical confounders, in addition to prevalence of negative workplace experiences in axSpA.Methods In total, 770 patients with axSpA participated in the multicentre, observational ATTENTUS–axSpA survey in Germany. Demographic information, clinical parameters and patient-related outcomes (including disease activity and function) with a focus on WP were prospectively recorded.Results A high prevalence of negative workplace experiences was reported among the 770 patients analysed. Overall, 23.4% of patients were not employed and 6.5% received disability pensions. Current work cessation was prevalent in 120 patients, and 28 of those were out of work for 10 years or longer. Of the 590 currently employed patients, 31.9% reported absenteeism and 35.9% reported presenteeism for >1 month within the past year. Multivariate logistic regression identified low disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), better physical function (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index) and better global functioning (Assessment of SpondylAarthritis International Society–Health Index) as the main predictors for unimpaired WP (n=242). Importantly, biological treatment, disease duration, age, sex, education level and body mass index were not reliable predictors.Discussion Despite improvements in pharmacological treatment options, we still observed substantially impaired WP in patients with axSpA. These data emphasise the high unmet need for targeted strategies to provide improved medical and social care.Data are available on reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. The data sets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available. Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided are anonymised to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations. The data may be requested by writing to the corresponding author.