Work disability and state benefit claims in early rheumatoid arthritis: the ERAN cohort

McWilliams, Daniel F.; Varughese, Sneha; Young, Adam; Kiely, Patrick D.; Walsh, David A.

Abstract

Objective. RA is an important cause of work disability. This study aimed to identify predictive factors for work disability and state benefit claims in a cohort with early RA.

Methods. The Early RA Network (ERAN) inception cohort recruited from 22 centres. At baseline, and during each annual visit, participants (n = 1235) reported employment status and benefits claims and how both were influenced by RA. Survival analysis derived adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs to predict associations between baseline factors and time until loss of employment due to RA or a state benefits claim due to RA.

Results. At baseline, 47% of participants were employed and 17% reported claiming benefits due to RA. During follow-up, loss of employment due to RA was reported by 10% (49/475) of the participants and 20% (179/905) began to claim benefits. Independent predictors of earlier work disability were bodily pain (aHR 2.45, 95% CI 1.47, 4.08, P = 0.001) and low vitality (aHR 1.84, 95% CI 1.18, 2.85, P = 0.007). Disability (aHR 1.28, 95% CI 1.02, 1.61, P = 0.033), DAS28 (aHR 1.48, 95% CI 1.05, 2.09, P = 0.026) and extra-articular disease (aHR 1.77, 95% CI 1.17, 2.70, P = 0.007) predicted earlier benefits claims.

Conclusion. Work disability and benefits claims due to RA were predicted by different baseline factors. Pain and low vitality predicted work disability. Baseline disability, extra-articular disease manifestations and disease activity predicted new benefits claims due to RA. Future research on interventions targeting these factors could investigate job retention and financial independence.

Citation

McWilliams, D. F., Varughese, S., Young, A., Kiely, P. D., & Walsh, D. A. (2014). Work disability and state benefit claims in early rheumatoid arthritis: the ERAN cohort. Rheumatology, 53(3), 473-481. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ket373

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 25, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Nov 15, 2013
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 27, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 27, 2014
• Journal: Rheumatology
• Electronic ISSN: 1462-0324
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 473-481
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ket373
• Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Employment, Social security work, Disability
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/719401
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/53/3/473/1781862
• Contract Date: Mar 27, 2014