title: [Employee participation by patients with rheumatoid arthritis and spondylarthritis. Biologicals may have an effect on the loss of productivity].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the various types of spondylarthritis (SpA) contribute significantly to employee disability. Each of these inflammatory diseases has a great impact on physical and mental health, thereby restricting one's ability to participate in one's social roles. This may result in decreased productivity during working hours (sickness presenteeism), absenteeism and eventually, disablement, with financial consequences for the patient as well as society. By incorporating biologicals into treatment strategies, the health of patients with RA and SpA can be better regulated; however, the cost of such treatment has risen considerably. There are indications that part of these high treatment expenditures can be regained by improved employee productivity of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Interne geneeskunde, onderafd. Reumatologie en Caphri onderzoeksinstituut, Maastricht, the Netherlands. a.boonen@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boonen
authors.forename: Marieke M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: ter Wee
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D018582:Sick Leave; D012919:Social Behavior; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products