AB0685 IMPACT OF AXSPA ON WORKING LIFE: RESULTS FROM 233 PATIENTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION PARTICIPATING IN THE EUROPEAN MAP OF AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHIRTIS (EMAS)
Authors: I. Gaydukova, M. Garrido-Cumbrera, T. Dubinina, A. Dubikov, E. Zonova, M. Korolev, S. Lapshina, P. Pchelnikova, I. Shipilova, A. Sitalo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has been shown to impact patients’ (pts) professional opportunities, employment status and work productivity [1]. Objectives: To evaluate employment status, work-related issues and their interrelation with the disease-related characteristics among Russian axSpA pts. Methods: The European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) was a cross-sectional on-line survey of pts with self-reported axSpA conducted in 13 European countries. Russian participants were recruited between Dec 2017 and Feb 2018 through the Russian Ankylosing Spondylitis Association and an online panel. Socio-demographic, BASDAI, psychological distress (GHQ-12), working status and work-related issues (e.g. taking sick leave, difficulties fulfilling or reducing working hours, etc.) were assessed. Results: 233 Russian pts participated in EMAS. The mean age was 36.7±9.1 years, 51.9% were female, and the mean disease duration was 12.4±9.5 years. Of the 233, 226 reported their employment status and productivity, of which 73.45% were employed, 12.39% were unemployed, 4.42% were on sick leave, 3.54% were homemakers, 2.21% were retired, 2.21% were on early retirements, 1.77% were students. Of the 160 pts, who reported their occupation, 73 (45.63%) were employed and had jobs requiring higher education qualifications, 39 (24.38%) had management positions, 23 (14.38%) were skilled manual workers and 12 (7.50%) were skilled non-manual workers, 3 (1.88%) were occupied in armed forces, 3 (1.88%) pts worked as unskilled workers. 124 (76.54%) of 162 pts survey respondents declared to have suffered work issues related to their disease in the 12 months prior to the survey. The most common work-related issue was difficulty fulfilling working hours in 69 (56.56%), followed by taking sick leave 49 (40.16%) and asking for days off 44 (36.07%) out of 122 pts. Pts who reported any type of issues at work had higher BASDAI and psychological distress (GHQ-12 score) ( table 1). 145 (76.32%) out of 190 responded pts reported that their choice of workplace had been influenced by the disease (68.25%). Table 1. BASDAI and GHQ-12 by work-related issues and difficulty fulfilling working hours due to axSpA. Any type of issue at work BASDAI GHQ-12 Mean SD N Mean SD N No 3.14* 1.93 38 2.95* 3.39 38 Yes 4.97* 2.08 124 6.53* 3.76 124 Difficulty fulfilling working hours Mean SD N Mean SD N No 4.53** 2.15 55 5.49** 3.80 55 Yes 5.32** 1.96 69 7.36** 3.54 69 * Mann-Whitney test p-values &lt; 0.001 ** Mann-Whitney test p-values &lt; 0.05 Conclusion: Results from the Russian sample of the EMAS survey highlight the impact of axSpA in working life. Patients with any type of work-related issue mark above the cut-off point of BASDAI and GHQ-12, so work-related issues are associated to a status of high disease activity and a risk of poor mental health. Among all work-related issues surveyed, the presence of presenteeism (measured by difficulty fulfilling working hours) is associated to both a clinical and significant increase in disease activity through BASDAI. References: [1]van Lunteren, M., et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kex365 . Disclosure of Interests: Inna Gaydukova Grant/research support from: JSC BIOCAD, Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Novartis, AbbVie, JSC BIOCAD, Сelgene, MSD, Sanofi, Marco Garrido-Cumbrera: None declared, Tatiana Dubinina Speakers bureau: Novartis, BIOCAD, MSD, Pfaizer, Abbvie, UCB, Alexander Dubikov: None declared, Elena Zonova Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, Bayer, Janssen, Lilly, Maxim Korolev: None declared, Svetlana Lapshina: None declared, Polina Pchelnikova: None declared, Irina Shipilova Employee of: Novartis Pharma LLC, Alexey Sitalo: None declared