title: Comparison of work disability and health-related quality of life between males and females with rheumatoid arthritis below the age of 45 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare work disability (WD) and health status between males and females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the age group 18-45 years, and to compare health status between patients with and without WD within each gender, and finally to identify factors independently associated with WD in this age group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of RA patients at the time starting with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy and/or biological treatment. Patients receiving a permanent, national WD pension corresponding to >or= 50% were defined as work disabled. We examined gender differences with regard to disease characteristics, health status and WD. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson's chi(2)-test were applied for group comparisons. Multiple logistic regression analyses with adjustments for duration of education, disease duration, age, erosive disease, disability score [using the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ)], Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) mental health score and gender were used to identify variables associated with WD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 474 (372 females) patients, the number (%) of work-disabled females/males was 91 (24.7)/8 (8.1) (p<0.001). WD was associated with worse health status in both genders. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) [OR (95% CI)] for WD in females vs. males was 4.84 (1.85-12.65) in the multivariate analyses. Other factors independently associated with WD were worse mental health, disease duration and low level of education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Females with RA had a fourfold increased risk of WD compared to men. Low level of education, disease duration and worse mental health were also independently associated with WD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. marianne.wallenius@ntnu.no
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wallenius
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Skomsvoll
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koldingsnes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rødevand
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kvien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents