title: Effects of rheumatoid arthritis on employment and social participation during the first years of disease in The Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on working capabilities and social participation, including non-paying jobs, during the first 6 yr of disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In April 1996, a self-reporting questionnaire was sent to 424 participants of a population-based clinical trial of therapeutic strategies for early RA initiated in 1990.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 363 completed questionnaires were returned (response = 86%). Disease duration varied from < 1 to 6 yr (mean 2.8 yr). The employment rate was low in the RA population compared to the Dutch population. In the male 45- to 64-yr-old group, 63% of RA patients were not employed compared to 32% of the Dutch population (P < 0.01). In the female 45- to 64-yr-old group, 76% of the RA population vs 67% of the Dutch were not employed (P < 0.05). Of the employed patients, 59% reported that RA affected their working capabilities, e.g. they worked an average of 21 h per week less due to RA. Of the patients without a paying job, 41% believed that this was (partly) due to RA. In addition, fewer RA patients had non-paying jobs and they performed fewer household activities compared to the general Dutch population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA already has a negative influence on the working capabilities, social participation and household activities of these patients during the first 6 yr of disease.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Research Foundation Utrecht, and Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van Jaarsveld
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schrijvers
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: van Albada-Kuipers
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bijlsma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D013997:Time Factors