The effect of rheumatoid arthritis on personal income in Australia.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the personal income of a cohort of individuals with RA in Australia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of a sample of 497 working age people with RA in Adelaide, South Australia was carried out.


RESULTS
The average personal income of an individual with RA in our cohort in 2003-2004 was $A22 400 compared with the Australian mean annual income of $A38 000. When standardized, the income of our cohort was 66% that of the average income of the Australian population. Overall one-third of the RA cohort relied principally on the social security system for their income and more than 75% of the cohort estimated they had lost greater than $A10 000 per annum in personal income as a result of their disease. Individuals with RA who were not working had annual incomes on average of more than $A20 000 less than those who continued to work.


CONCLUSIONS
The personal income loss associated with RA in Australia is of enormous significance. It reduces a large population of individuals to relative financial poverty and potentially limits their access to a range of services including private health services.
Shanahan
E M
EM
School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Smith
M D
MD
Roberts-Thomson
L
L
Esterman
A
A
Ahern
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged