Study highlights work disruptions caused by ankylosing spondylitis

A new study conducted in the Netherlands has highlighted the potentially serious disruptions that ankylosing spondylitis patients experience during their working lives.

For the study, led by Maastricht University, researchers aimed to examine the impact of ankylosing spondylitis on work disability over a 12-year period compared to the general population, while also exploring the specific factors that can predict adverse work outcomes.

Researchers worked with data from 215 patients taken from an international study that included patients from the Netherlands, France and Belgium and found that 55 patients – just over a quarter of the group – were unable to work due to their disability at the outset of the study, and a further 139 people were at risk of adverse working outcomes during the follow-up period.

The study has indicated that work disability rates increased over the 12-year period among men in particular, though the trend was less clear for women.

According to the research, which was published in Arthritis Care & Research, people in the Netherlands were more likely to be affected, which suggests that where you live can have an impact, and people with uveitis (an inflammatory eye condition) and those with more active forms of ankylosing spondylitis were more likely to experience difficulties.

The researchers conclude, “Although work disability was already prevalent at inclusion in the cohort, a substantial proportion of patients incurred further adverse work outcome over 12 years.

“In addition to country of residence, uveitis, age and self-reported physical function or disease activity predicted long-term adverse work outcome.”

Katherine Free, research liaison and communications manager for Arthritis Research UK, says of the study, “This research highlights the impact living with an inflammatory condition such as ankylosing spondylitis can have. Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the main causes of incapacity for work in the UK.

“Here at Arthritis Research UK, we are committed to supporting all those living with arthritis stay in control of their condition. The £1.4 million Arthritis Research UK-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, led by the University of Southampton, was launched last year to find cost-effective ways of reducing the impact of conditions that affect the muscles, joints and bones on people’s employment and productivity.”

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