Work disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Norway

Abstract

Objective: To report the prevalence of work disability (WD) in a cross-sectional study of a large population of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the associated demographic and clinical characteristics, including extraspinal features, that contribute to WD.

Methods: Patients with AS registered in a hospital database were invited to participate. A total of 360 patients took part. The survey period was 1998 to 2002. During an extended outpatient visit, data were collected according to a predefined data form. Demographic data were collected and a physical examination performed.

Results: After 22.6 years of disease duration, the cumulative prevalence of WD reached 43.6%, and an additional 8.9% of patients were nonparticipants in the labor force. Significant odds ratios indicating an independent association with WD were found for history of polyarthritis (9.6), coronary heart disease (CHD; 7.8), female sex (3.4), having children with spondyloarthritis (2.9), changing profession (2.8), lower level of education (1.4), mean score of the Bath AS Functional Index (1.2), increasing age (1.05), and increasing finger-to-floor distance (1.02).

Conclusion: The longterm prevalence of WD among Norwegian patients with AS is considerably higher than in reports from other countries. Earlier polyarthritis and CHD were the strongest independent risk factors for WD.