Work Disability and Return to Work After Lymphoma: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Occupational Medicine

Background:

• Lymphoma significantly impacts working-age individuals.
• Previous research on lymphoma and work disability is subtype-specific.
• Understanding long-term work outcomes is crucial for patient support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the overall risk of disability pension for all lymphoma subtypes.
• To quantify return-to-work rates for lymphoma patients previously employed.
• To provide comprehensive data on the socioeconomic impact of lymphoma.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study including 4072 lymphoma patients (ages 18-60) diagnosed 2000-2019.
• Patients were matched with 20,360 general population comparators.
• Disability pension risk and return to work were analyzed using national registers.

Main Results:

• All lymphoma subtypes showed a significantly increased risk of disability pension (5-year risk difference: 5.3%).
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients had a higher disability pension risk than Hodgkin lymphoma patients.
• Return to work peaked at 82.1% two years post-diagnosis, with 24.5% on sick leave at one year.

Conclusions:

• Lymphoma patients, irrespective of subtype, face elevated disability pension risks.
• Return to work is a gradual process, with a notable peak at two years post-diagnosis.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted support for lymphoma survivors in the workforce.