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Predictors of Presenteeism and Activity Impairment Outside Work in Patients with Spondyloarthritis

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Abstract

Purposes To assess predictors of presenteeism (reduced productivity at work) and activity impairment outside work in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Methods Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study predictors of presenteeism and activity impairment in 1,253 patients with SpA based on a 2.5 year follow-up questionnaire. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire was used as main outcome. Age, gender, lifestyle factors, subgroups, disease duration, and different patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) were studied as possible predictors. The association between presenteeism and WPAI activity impairment outside work was assessed. Results Out of 1,253 patients, 757 reported being in work and of these 720 responded to the WPAI questionnaire. The mean (confidence interval, CI) reported presenteeism was 25 % (23–27 %) and mean activity impairment 33 % (31–35 %) (0–100 %, 0 = no reduction). Significant predictors of presenteeism and activity impairment at follow-up (controlled for gender, age, spondyloarthritis subgroups and presenteeism at baseline) were presenteeism at baseline, poor quality of life, worse disease activity, decreased physical function, lower self-efficacy pain and symptom, higher scores of anxiety, depression, smoking and low education level, and for activity impairment also female sex. There was a strong association between presenteeism and activity impairment outside work (OR 16.7; 95 % CI 11.6–24.3; p < 0.001). Conclusions Presenteeism and activity impairment were not only predicted by presenteeism at baseline, but also by several PROMs commonly used in clinical rheumatology practice. Impaired activity outside work could indicate problems also at work suggesting why both areas need to be addressed in the clinical situation.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the staff at the Epi-centre Skåne, Sweden and the Research and Development Centre at Spenshult Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Sweden, for skilful help. This study was funded by Region Skåne and with research grants from the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, Sweden, the Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation, Swedish, the Swedish Rheumatism Association, the Maggie Stephens Foundation, Sweden and with unrestricted research grants from Abbvie and Pfizer.

Conflict of interest

E.H has received fees for speaking from Abbvie and Roche. I.F.P has received speakers’ honoraria from Pfizer, Abbvie and UCB Pharma. A.B has acted as consultant for Abbvie and S.B has received fees for speaking from Pfizer, Abbvie and UCB Pharma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spenshult Research and Development Center, Bäckagårdsvägen 47, 302 74, Halmstad, Sweden

    Emma Haglund, Ann Bremander & Stefan Bergman

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Emma Haglund, Ingemar F. Petersson, Ann Bremander & Stefan Bergman

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Ingemar F. Petersson

  4. Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Business and Engineering, Biomechanics and Health, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden

    Ann Bremander

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  1. Emma Haglund
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Correspondence to Emma Haglund.

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Haglund, E., Petersson, I.F., Bremander, A. et al. Predictors of Presenteeism and Activity Impairment Outside Work in Patients with Spondyloarthritis. J Occup Rehabil 25, 288–295 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9537-2

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