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Sick leave as a predictor of job loss in patients with chronic arthritis

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Abstract

Objectives: To study the occurrence and duration of sick leave as potential risk factors for permanent job loss after 24 months among 112 individuals with chronic arthritis and a disease related problem at work. Methods: Data collection was embedded in a multicentre randomised controlled trial in which the cost-effectiveness of a multidisciplinary job retention vocational rehabilitation programme for employees with chronic arthritis and a disease related problem at work was compared to usual outpatient care. Sick leave (complete or partial) was defined as absenteeism reported to the employer and permanent job loss as receiving a full work disability pension or unemployment. The association between sick leave at baseline and job loss after 24 months was investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis, including those variables that were univariately significantly associated with job loss after 24 months. Results: At baseline, 60 of the 112 subjects (54%) were on sick leave, with a mean duration of 18.7 weeks, in half of these patients the sick leave was complete. After 24 months, 26 of the 112 patients (23%) had lost their job. The presence of complete sick leave (OR 4.74, 95% CI 1.86–12.07) and the depression score of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02–1.36) were significantly and independently associated with job loss after 2 years follow-up. Conclusion: The occurrence of complete sick leave was found to be an independent risk factor for job loss in patients with chronic arthritis who have a disease related problem at work.

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Abbreviations

ARA:

American Rheumatism Association

AS:

Ankylosing spondylitis

CI:

Confidence interval

ESR:

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

HADS:

Hospital anxiety and depression scale

HAQ:

Health assessment questionnaire

OR:

Odds ratio

RA:

Rheumatoid arthritis

RAND:

Research and development

MOS SF-36:

Medical outcomes study short form-36

SD:

Standard deviation

SLE:

Systemic lupus erythematosus

SPSS:

Statistical package for the social sciences

VAS:

Visual analogue scale

VBBA:

Questionnaire on perception and judgment of work (Vragenlijst Beleving en Beoordeling van Arbeid)

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Dutch Medical Science Organisation (ZONMw, formerly NWO), project nr. 940-36-009. The authors like to thank research nurse Jacqueline Boon and all participating rheumatologists: A.J. Peeters and D. van Zeben, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft; M.L. Westedt and I. Speijer, Bronovo Hospital, The Hague; H.K. Ronday, Hospital Leyenburg, The Hague; J.A.P.M. Ewals, Rode Kruis Hospital, The Hague; G. Collée, and W.M. de Beus, Medical Center Haaglanden, The Hague; J.Ph. Terwiel, A. Linssen and C. Mallee, Spaarne Hospital and Kennemer Hospital, Haarlem; J.M. Bok, Groene Hart Hospital, Gouda.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology C1-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Petronella D. M. de Buck & Theodora P. M. Vliet Vlieland

  2. Department of Medical Decision Making J10-S, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Petronella D. M. de Buck & Wilbert B. van den Hout

  3. Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Geertruida H. de Bock

  4. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Coronel Institute, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Frank van Dijk

  5. Department of Clinical Epidemiology C9-P, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Jan P. Vandenbroucke

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  1. Petronella D. M. de Buck
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  2. Geertruida H. de Bock
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  3. Frank van Dijk
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  6. Theodora P. M. Vliet Vlieland
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Correspondence to Theodora P. M. Vliet Vlieland.

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de Buck, P.D.M., de Bock, G.H., van Dijk, F. et al. Sick leave as a predictor of job loss in patients with chronic arthritis. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 80, 160–170 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0116-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0116-5

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