Trends in work participation among patients with inflammatory rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (iRMDs): Data from...

To analyse work participation among patients with inflammatory rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (iRMDs), namely rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).

A cross-sectional sample of 16 421 patients from the National Database of the German Collaborative Arthritis Centers, aged <65 years were analysed. For each diagnosis, yearly rates of absenteeism, employment and disability pensions were analysed from 2010 to 2022. Population data were used to calculate standardised employment ratios (SERs), adjusted for age, sex, federal state and vocational qualification. The analysis was additionally stratified by sex, adjusting for other factors.

Over the observed time span, large employment increases were found across all diagnoses, namely in RA (54%-68%), PsA (58%-72%), SSc (47%-66%), AAV (43%-61%), SLE (48%-60%) and axSpA (65%-73%). SERs were for RA 0.88 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.90), axSpA (0.88 (0.84 to 0.91)), PsA (0.88 (0.85 to 0.91)), SSc (0.83 (0.75 to 0.91)), SLE (0.76 (0.72 to 0.80)) and AAV (0.73 (0.63 to 0.83)). In RA, axSpA, PsA and AAV, SERs were higher in men while in SLE and SSc men had lower SER. Median of yearly absenteeism due to the disease decreased by 5 (RA), 1 (axSpA), 6 (PsA), 11 (SLE), 4 (SSc) and 10 days (AAV) in the time span. Except for SSc, the proportion of disability pension receivers decreased for all diagnoses.

Since 2010, work participation has improved for patients with iRMDs, as reflected in higher employment, reduced absenteeism and less disability retirement. However, patients have not reached population employment rates.