title: Consequences of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain symptoms on women's work participation and income: results from a national household sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe differences in work participation and income by bladder symptom impact and comorbidities among women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from 2,767 respondents younger than 65 years identified with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome symptoms were analyzed. The data were taken from the RAND Interstitial Cystitis Epidemiology (RICE) survey, and included retrospective self-reports of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome impact, severity, years since onset, related comorbidities (depressive symptomatology, number of conditions), work participation and income, and personal characteristics. Multiple regressions predicted 5 current work outcomes of works now, kept from working by pain, missed work days, days worked when bothered by symptoms and real income change since symptom onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for work status at symptom onset and personal characteristics, greater bladder symptom impact predicted a greater likelihood of not now working, kept more days from working by pain, missed more work days and working more days with symptoms. More depressive symptomatology and greater number of comorbidities predicted reduced work participation. Women experienced no growth in real income since symptom onset. Measures of symptom severity were not associated with any of the economic outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome symptom impact, depressive symptomatology and count of comorbidities (but not symptom severity) were each associated with less work participation and leveling of women's long-term earnings. Management of bladder symptom impact on nonwork related activities and depressive symptomatology may improve women's work outcomes.
authors.affiliation: RAND Health, RAND, Santa Monica, California. Electronic address: beckett@rand.org.
authors.forename: Megan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.affiliation: RAND Health, RAND, Santa Monica, California.
authors.forename: Marc N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: J Quentin
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.affiliation: RAND Health, RAND, Santa Monica, California.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.affiliation: Survey Research Group, RAND, Santa Monica, California.
authors.forename: Sandra H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: IC/BPS; cystitis; employment; interstitial; interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome; pelvic pain; sampling studies; urinary bladder