impact factor, citescore
logo
In press
In Press
Recent issue
Recent issue
Recent Supplement
Recent supplement
archives
Archives
articles free
Free to view
Search
Search
 

Full Papers

 

Assessment of work limitations and disability in systemic vasculitis

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

 

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada. lbarra2@uwo.ca
  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
  4. Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai, Toronto, ON, Canada.
  5. Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

CER9243
2016 Vol.34, N°3 ,Suppl.97
PI 0111, PF 0114
Full Papers

Free to view
(click on article PDF icon to read the article)

PMID: 27241587 [PubMed]

Received: 12/01/2016
Accepted : 10/05/2016
In Press: 24/05/2016
Published: 27/05/2016

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Despite advances in the management of systemic vasculitis (SV), direct consequences of the disease, leading to impairments in physical and mental function can cause disability. The objective of this study was to assess work limitations in SV.
METHODS:
SV patients were recruited from a tertiary care clinic. Work disabled (WD) was defined as not working, early retirement, or reduced hours at work. Participants who were working at the time of enrolment completed the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ). Other work-related measures were self-reported by questionnaire. Disease outcome measures (Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ) and pain visual analogue score (VAS)) were obtained at time of WLQ.
RESULTS:
103 participants were enrolled with mean age 58 (SD17), 60% females, 48% with anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), 26% with large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and 26% with other types of SV. 22 (21%) were WD secondary to SV, 29 (28%) were working and 52 (51%) subjects were not working for reasons other than SV. SV-related WD subjects were more likely to have a lower level of education (p=0.003) than non-WD subjects. The VDI was higher in SV-related WD vs. non-WD subjects: 1.9 (SD 2.7) vs. 2.9 (SD 1.4); p=0.015. 38 subjects were working in some capacity and completed the WLQ; their productivity loss was 8.2% and this was highly correlated with HAQ and pain VAS (rho=0.585 and rho=0.458, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS:
SV-related work disability occurred in 21% and was associated with lower levels of education, higher disease severity and worse functional outcomes.

Rheumatology Article