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. 2015 Apr 13;10(4):e0121856.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121856. eCollection 2015.

Variables related to working capability among Swiss patients with multiple sclerosis--a cohort study

Oliver Findling  1 , Magdalena Baltisberger  1 , Simon Jung  1 , Christian P Kamm  1 , Heinrich P Mattle  1 , Johann Sellner  2
Affiliations

Variables related to working capability among Swiss patients with multiple sclerosis--a cohort study

Oliver Findling et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: Reduced working capability is one of the most devastating consequences of multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to study working capability and related variables in Swiss MS patients.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analysis of employment status and risk factors for reduced working capability among MS patients treated at our outpatient clinic. A questionnaire was mailed to 644 MS patients and returned by 69.7%. 405 patients (66% female, mean age 44.2 years (SD ± 10.2), median EDSS 3.0 (SD ± 1.8)) were eligible for subsequent analysis.

Results: After a mean disease duration of 12.3 years (SD ± 8.25), full or part time employment was declared by 26.7% and 25.7%, respectively. Incapacity to work was reported by 27.1%. A total of 52.8% specified MS as the cause for altered working capability, whereas 20.5% cited reasons unrelated to the disorder. Even with minimal disability (EDSS < 3) a significant proportion of patients (24%) reported reduced working capability. Among the MS-specific restricting factors were fatigue (47.6%), sensorimotor deficits (31.1%), impaired vision (3.3%) and pain (2.8%).

Conclusion: MS continues to takes its toll on the professional life of the patients early in the course. While complete incapacity becomes relevant with moderate to severe disability, many patients scale down to part-time even with minimal impairment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Symptoms leading to impaired working capability.
In patients with reduced working capability (n = 214) fatigue is the most important reason for scaling down to part-time work or full retirement. Other symptoms: e.g. dizziness, dysarthria, bladder and bowel dysfunction, hearing loss and paroxysmal symptoms.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Working capability in relation to the degree of disability.
With increasing disability the proportion of fulltime working patients is decreasing. Furthermore, in patients with moderate and severe disability the proportion of patients who are not employed due to other reasons than MS symptoms is lower than in the general population. One reason could be that patients with higher disability are more likely to be eligible for early retirement and are not available in the labour market.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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