title: Relationship between complex regional pain syndrome and working life: a Korean study.
abstract: Complex regional pain syndrome affects the quality of life of the patient. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of this syndrome and evaluate its effect on the patient's working life. We demonstrated that the disease has a male preponderance and is 3 times more likely to affect the lower extremities. In this study, 11 participants (20%) retained their employment, whereas 44 (80%) became unemployed. Mean age and pain score were lower in the employment group than in the unemployment group (29.1 ± 16.8 yr vs 40.1 ± 12.6 yr, P = 0.021, and 4.5 ± 2.9 vs 7.0 ± 2.0, P = 0.002, respectively). Subjects diagnosed within 8 months (P = 0.044), those who had achieved higher levels of education (P = 0.028), and those working in white-collar jobs (P = 0.011) had higher employment-retention rates. Therefore, patients must manage their jobs (lower physical demand and decrease the number of working hours) if they are to improve their occupational life. To achieve satisfactory outcomes and a high employment-retention rate, clinicians must be aware of the importance of an early diagnosis (within 8 months), appropriate treatment, and a reduction in the patient's pain score.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yong Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014937:Work; D055815:Young Adult