Working capacity and cervical dystonia.
The objective of this questionnaire study was to assess the effect of cervical dystonia on patients' working capacity. Of the 303 working-aged members of the Finnish Dystonia Association (N = 433) who participated in the study 247 (82%) had cervical dystonia. Their median age was 50 years, the median duration of CD symptoms was 12.3 years. Most (78%) subjects were on botulinum toxin treatment. Ninety-seven (39%) had retired because of CD at a median age of 48 years; 96 (39%) of the subjects were working: 87 full-time and 9 part-time. The remaining participants were on sick leave, unemployed, studying or retired of other reasons. Retirement occurred more than ten years earlier compared with the general Finnish population. All possibilities to help CD patients to continue longer in work should be considered early.
Martikainen
Kirsti K
KK
The Finnish Parkinson Association and Foundation, PO Box 905, FIN-20101 Turku, Finland. kirsti.martikainen@parkinson.fi
Luukkaala
Tiina H
TH
Marttila
Reijo J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014103:Torticollis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014937:Work / Q000502:physiology*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D001905:Botulinum Toxins