Xiang L, Kua SM, Low AH. Work Productivity and Economic Burden of Systemic Sclerosis in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population.
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2020;
74:818-827. [PMID:
33253494 PMCID:
PMC9314801 DOI:
10.1002/acr.24521]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess work productivity, identify associated factors and evaluate the economic burden of systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a multi-ethnic Asian population.
METHODS
Data on employment status and work productivity loss were collected. Associations between demographic and disease characteristics and unemployment status, work productivity loss and activity impairment were examined using logistic and linear regression analyses, as appropriate. Costs of unemployment and work productivity loss were estimated using the human capital approach.
RESULTS
Of 111 patients with a mean disease duration of 9.1 years, 33 (29.7%) were unemployed. Their mean age at unemployment was 44.2 years, equating to 22.8 years of lost employment. No demographic and disease characteristics were significantly associated with unemployment status in multivariable analysis. Of 73 employed patients, 39 (53.4%) reported work productivity loss, accounting for 45.9% of the working week. Presence of hyperlipidemia (coefficient= -19.01, p=0.03) was associated with work productivity loss in multivariable analysis. Of 78 employed and 33 unemployed patients, 37 (47.4%) and 19 (57.6%) reported activity impairment, accounting for 42.2% and 50.0% of the preceding week, respectively. Presence of hyperlipidemia (coefficient= -18.56, p<0.01) was associated with activity impairment in multivariable analysis. Annual cost of unemployment and work productivity loss were estimated to be SGD$53,244 and SGD$13,045 per patient, respectively.
CONCLUSION
SSc imposes significant unemployment and work productivity loss and causes substantial economic burden to both affected individuals and society. Modifying the identified factors associated with unemployment and work productivity loss may reduce the burden of SSc.
Collapse