Parkinson's disease: how is employment affected?
R Murphy1, N Tubridy, H Kevelighan
1UCD School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. roberta.murphy@ucdconnect.ie
Irish Journal of Medical Science
|January 18, 2013
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts employment, with early onset and diagnosis leading to job loss. Vitality scores and workplace adjustments can prolong employment for individuals with PD.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Occupational Health
- Socioeconomics
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with increased rates of unemployment and early retirement.
- These employment changes contribute to the overall burden of the disease for affected individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the time from Parkinson's disease onset to job loss.
- To identify predictors of continued employment in PD patients.
- To explore workplace challenges and potential interventions for individuals with PD.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study involving 88 patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 65 or younger.
- Utilized the Veterans RAND Short Form-36 and a dedicated employment survey for data collection.
Main Results:
- Males with PD experienced higher unemployment rates compared to the general Irish population (SR 1.6).
- The median time to loss of employment was 7 years; 40% remained employed after 5 years, and 14% after 10 years.
- Earlier age of PD onset, earlier diagnosis, and higher vitality scores were linked to longer employment duration. Slowness, fatigue, and tremor were identified as key workplace challenges.
Conclusions:
- Job loss imposes a substantial socioeconomic burden on younger individuals with Parkinson's disease.
- Further research into specific workplace issues and reasonable accommodations is necessary.
- Educating patients and employers about Parkinson's disease and its workplace implications is recommended.
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