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

McWilliams, Daniel F., Varughese, Sneha, Young, Adam, Kiely, Patrick D. and Walsh, David A. (2013) Work disability and state benefit claims in early rheumatoid arthritis: the ERAN cohort. Rheumatology, 53 (3). pp. 473-481. ISSN 1462-0324

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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.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/719401
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Employment, Social security work, Disability
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and Dermatology
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ket373
Depositing User: Liu, Mr Zhenxing
Date Deposited: 27 Mar 2014 12:52
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 16:39
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/2568

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