RA-related work-disability rates were similar in the USA and European countries .
An apparent decrease in the prevalence of RA-related work disability since the 1970s may be related to a decrease in physically dem and ing work rather than to epidemiologic changes in RA .
The majority of the literature addresses permanent disability and temporary work loss ; none of the studies review ed reported the effect of RA on presenteeism , i.e. work limitation from the employer perspective , and there are few published studies of the effectiveness of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in reducing work-related productivity loss
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is a chronic , debilitating disease with a significant impact on workplace productivity .
AIM To perform a systematic review of studies of the relationship between RA and reduced  workplace productivity .
Work factors and behavioural coping in relation to withdrawal from the labour force in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
OBJECTIVE To assess separate and combined effects of work factors and behavioural coping in relation to withdrawal from the labour force among patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) . METHODS A cross sectional study was conducted in a Dutch nationwide r and om sample of 720 patients with RA . Information about work factors and behavioural coping was collected by a self-administered postal question naire . A broad variety of work factors and coping styles were evaluated separately and in combination using multivariate logistic regression analyses , controlling for sociodemographic and disease related variables . Attributable and preventable fractions were calculated from the combined analyses to assess the relative importance of the contributing factors . RESULTS Additional job training , equal career opportunities , letting the disease influence the choice of the current job position , and informing colleagues about having the disease were negatively associated with withdrawal from the labour force . The most relevant factor in terms of decreasing the risk was adjusting job dem and s which accounted for 63 % of the patients still in the labour force . Decreasing activities and diverting attention in order to cope with pain , and pacing in order to cope with limitations were the coping styles which were positively associated with withdrawal from the labour force . The most relevant factor in terms of increasing the risk of withdrawal was pacing which accounted for 67 % of the withdrawals . CONCLUSION Work factors are potentially important modifiable risk factors for withdrawal from the labour force in patients with RA .  Behavioural coping is also relevant
RA-related work-disability rates were similar in the USA and European countries .
An apparent decrease in the prevalence of RA-related work disability since the 1970s may be related to a decrease in physically dem and ing work rather than to epidemiologic changes in RA .
The majority of the literature addresses permanent disability and temporary work loss ; none of the studies review ed reported the effect of RA on presenteeism , i.e. work limitation from the employer perspective , and there are few published studies of the effectiveness of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in reducing work-related productivity loss
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is a chronic , debilitating disease with a significant impact on workplace productivity .
AIM To perform a systematic review of studies of the relationship between RA and reduced  workplace productivity .