Work instability in rheumatoid arthritis patients from Argentina: prevalence and associated factors

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) significantly impacts patients' ability to maintain employment.
• Work instability (WI) is a major concern for RA patients, affecting their quality of life and economic stability.
• Understanding factors contributing to WI is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of work instability (WI) in employed Argentinean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• To identify factors associated with high-risk WI among these patients.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study involving 172 currently employed RA patients who completed the RA Work Instability Scale (RA-WIS) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-A).
• High-risk WI was defined as an RA-WIS score of 17 or higher.
• Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• 41% of RA patients exhibited high-risk work instability (RA-WIS ≥17).
• Significant predictors of high-risk WI included a HAQ-A score >0.87 (OR 12.31) and the presence of radiographic erosions (OR 4.848).
• Higher monthly income (OR 0.301) and better functional class (OR 0.151) were found to be protective factors against high-risk WI.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of working RA patients face significant work instability.
• Functional status (HAQ-A) and radiographic evidence of disease (erosions) are key determinants of WI.
• Socioeconomic factors like income and overall functional class play a protective role, highlighting potential areas for support.