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. 2011 Aug;41(1):38-47.
doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2011.01.002. Epub 2011 Mar 22.

Determinants of work disability in patients with systemic sclerosis: a longitudinal study of the GENISOS cohort

Roozbeh Sharif  1 , Maureen D Mayes, Perry M Nicassio, Emilio B Gonzalez, Hilda Draeger, Terry A McNearney, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Deepthi K Nair, John D Reveille, Frank C Arnett, Shervin Assassi; GENISOS Study Group
Affiliations

Determinants of work disability in patients with systemic sclerosis: a longitudinal study of the GENISOS cohort

Roozbeh Sharif et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, correlates, and predictors of work disability (WD) in the Genetics versus ENvironment In Scleroderma Outcome Study (GENISOS). We hypothesized that WD in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a function of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the GENISOS cohort were subdivided in 3 groups: work disabled, working, and retired or homemakers. The latter group (n = 29) was excluded from further analysis. We used logistic regression analysis with a forward hierarchical variable selection strategy to investigate the independent correlates of WD at enrollment. Cox regression proportional Hazard's model with a similar variable selection strategy was utilized to determine the predictors of WD in those working at enrollment.

Results: Overall, 284 patients with a mean age of 48.7 years and disease duration of 2.5 (±1.6) years were enrolled into the GENISOS cohort, consisting of 83.5% female, 46.8% white, 28.9% Hispanic, and 20.4% African American. Patients were longitudinally followed in 1438 study visits. At enrollment, 124 patients (43.7%) were work disabled, whereas 131 (46.1%) were working. Lower level of education (P < 0.001), higher Medsger Lung Severity Index (P = 0.012), higher Fatigue Severity Score (P = 0.008), and less social support (P < 0.001) correlated independently with WD. Of those working at baseline, 35 (26.7%) eventually developed WD. Non-white ethnicity (P = 0.038), lower DLCO % predicted value (P = 0.038), and higher Fatigue Severity Score (P = 0.009) at enrollment independently predicted WD on follow-up visits.

Conclusions: WD is a major problem among SSc patients and its prevalence is substantially higher than other rheumatic conditions. Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors correlate with WD cross-sectionally and predict WD longitudinally in these patients.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The employment status of the patients at enrollment and follow-up visits
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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