The effects of rheumatoid arthritis on labor force participation, work performance, and healthcare costs in two workplace samples.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the workplace costs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the employer perspective.


METHODS
Samples included 4485 manufacturing firm (MF) employees (109 with RA) and 915 commercially insured (CO) subscribers (333 with RA). Respondents completed the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ) and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The effects of RA were estimated using regression analysis.


RESULTS
RA was associated with increased probability of no longer working (CO), increased effort to maintain work performance (CO), increased sickness absence (MF), and increased non-RA pharmacy costs (CO). RA was not associated with hours worked or hourly wage. Indirect costs of RA did not exceed direct medical costs.


CONCLUSIONS
Indirect costs of RA to employers are significant and warrant further research to increase our understanding of the contribution of different RA treatment interventions to optimizing workforce productivity.
Kessler
Ronald C
RC
Department of Health Care Policy, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Boston, MA, USA. kessler@hcp.med.harvard.edu
Maclean
J Ross
JR
Petukhova
Maria
M
Sarawate
Chaitanya A
CA
Short
Louise
L
Li
Tracy T
TT
Stang
Paul E
PE
D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000191:economics*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004526:Efficiency; D017049:Employer Health Costs; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged