RESEARCH - Work disability in SLE

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Feb 26;61(3):378-385. [Epub ahead of print]

Work disability in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Dhanhani AM, Gignac MA, Su J, Fortin PR.

Toronto Western Hospital of the University Health Network, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, accrual over time, and risk

factors of work disability in patients with systemic lupus

erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS: We studied 432 patients from an inception cohort. Work

disability was measured from a single self-report question. Data were

prospectively collected and included sociodemographic information,

clinical lupus features including activity (Systemic Lupus

Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 update [sLEDAI-2K]), damage

(Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College

of Rheumatology Damage Index), and organ involvement, as well as

health status (Short Form 36 [sF-36]), comorbidity, and medication

use. Student's t-test and Wilcoxon's rank sum test were used to

compare continuous variables and chi-square tests were used for

dichotomous variables. Descriptive survival curves of time to work

disability were presented. Bivariate and multivariate logistic

regressions were used to describe the relationships between clinically

relevant factors and work disability.

RESULTS: Of 432 patients, 88% were women and 73% were white. Within

the first year of diagnosis, 47% of patients were employed, 7% had a

disability, and 7% were on sick leave. Overall, work disability was

found in 98 (23%) patients. Risk factors for work disability found in

the multivariate regression analysis were younger age at diagnosis,

less education, fibromyalgia, hypertension, higher first-visit

SLEDAI-2K score, and lower first-visit SF-36 score.

CONCLUSION: Work disability is frequent in patients with SLE, with a

cumulative prevalence of 23%. Work disability was associated with a

complex array of health factors, including comorbidity, physical and

mental health limitations, and clinical features of lupus, that

warrant increased attention in future research.

PMID: 19248125

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19248125

Not an MD