Large country differences in work outcomes in patients with RA - an analysis in the multinational study COMORA

Antje van der Zee-Neuen*, Polina Putrik, Sofia Ramiro, Andras P. Keszei, Ihsane Hmamouchi, Maxime Dougados, Annelies Boonen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: We aimed to explore whether country of residence or specific country characteristics are associated with work outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Data from the 17 countries participating in the Comorbidities in RA (COMORA) study were used. Work outcomes were measured by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, addressing employment (yes/no), absenteeism (percentage of time; 3 categories) and presenteeism (percentage of at-work productivity restrictions; 4 categories). Contribution of country of residence, gross domestic product (GDP), Human Development Index (HDI), unemployment rate, social protection expenditures (SPE) or world region to work outcomes was investigated in adjusted (ordered) logistic regressions.

Results: The patients (n = 2395) were younger than 60 years; mean age 48 (SD 9.2) years, 1972 (84%) female and 1065 (45%) employed. Large country differences were found. Taking the country with the best work outcome as reference, Moroccan patients had the lowest odds of being employed (OR 0.2 (95% CI 0.1; 0.3) vs. Germany) and highest odds of absenteeism (OR 13.2 (3.6; 48.3) vs. Japan). Patients in Taiwan had the highest odds of presenteeism (OR 13.0 (5.5; 30.9) vs. Venezuela). All country indices except SPE were associated with work outcomes. For example, patients in low-GDP countries had lower odds of employment (OR 0.6 (0.5; 0.8)), higher odds of absenteeism (OR 2.8 (2.0; 4.1)), but lower odds of presenteeism (OR 0.5 (0.4; 0.7)) compared to higher-GDP countries.

Conclusion: Substantial differences in work outcomes among patients with RA were observed between countries. Lower economic wealth and human development of countries were associated with worse employment and higher absenteeism, but lower presenteeism.

Original languageEnglish
Article number216
Number of pages10
JournalArthritis Research & Therapy
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Sept 2017

Keywords

  • Multinational
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Employment
  • Absenteeism
  • Presenteeism
  • HEALTH-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE
  • RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS
  • CONTENT VALIDITY
  • DISEASE-ACTIVITY
  • PRODUCTIVITY
  • VALIDATION
  • DISABILITY

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