Examination of Work Performance of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) poses significant challenges to patients' working lives.
• Understanding factors affecting work performance in RA is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors affecting and associated with work performance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
• To explore the relationship between work spillover and various clinical and functional measures in RA.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of fifty RA patients was included in the study.
• The Arthritis Work Spillover Scale was used to assess work impact.
• Correlations were examined between the Arthritis Work Spillover Scale and multiple health and functional questionnaires.

Main Results:

• RA patients experienced an average of 4.16±8.77 days of annual disease-related leave.
• Significant percentages of patients altered work arrangements: 12% changed jobs, 32% reduced hours, and 20% quit.
• The Arthritis Work Spillover Scale showed low to moderate correlations with various measures including disease activity, pain, functionality, and quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Work spillover significantly impacts the working lives of RA patients.
• Factors such as disease activity, pain, functionality, respiratory muscle strength, and quality of life are associated with work spillover in RA.