Long-term botulinum toxin treatment increases employment rate in patients with cervical dystonia

We examined the impact of cervical dystonia (CD) and long-term botulinum toxin (BTX) treatment on employment status. Data on employment status at onset of CD, at initiation of BTX treatment, and at evaluation of long-term treatment were obtained from 62 CD patients aged 31-66 years (median, 53 years; 61% females) who had been treated for a median of 5 years (range, 1.5-10 years). The employment rate fell from 84% at the onset of CD to 47% before initiation of BTX treatment. With long-term BTX treatment, 72% of those who worked at the initiation of treatment stayed employed, and 67% of those on sick leave returned to work. A younger age and a higher level of education increased the probability of being employed and avoiding disability benefits. Among those who were younger than 55 years at evaluation of BTX treatment (n = 40), the employment rate increased from 47% to 65% with treatment, and among the male patients, it reached the level of the general population (86%). About half of the 34% who received disability benefits did so already before the BTX treatment was initiated.