POS0437 IMPAIRED WORK ABILITY IN axSpA PATIENTS IN GERMANY – DATA FROM RABBIT-SpA
Authors: A. Regierer, U. Kiltz, A. Weiß, D. Bestler, A. Strangfeld, X. Baraliakos
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> People affected with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) are impaired in their workplace experience. While axSpA typically starts in their second decade of life, work related outcomes are a fundamental social issue for axSpA patients, both from an individual but also a societal perspective. Different factors have been associated with adverse work outcomes in axSpA but few studies investigated work ability from the patient's perspective. The Work Ability Index (WAI) determines the employee's perception of work ability and has been shown to be predictive of future incapacity for work and disability pension. It ranges from 7 to 49 points with higher values indicating better work ability. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The aim of the current analysis is to evaluate the frequency and severity of impairment in ability to work and to assess the effect of work type on work ability in a prospective observational registry in patients with axSpA. <h3>Methods:</h3> RABBIT-SpA is a prospective longitudinal cohort study including axSpA patients enrolled at start of a new conventional treatment or bDMARD/tsDMARD treatment. AxSpA patients with available WAI scores were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Patients in retirement and those reported as housewife/-men were excluded. The WAI was categorized into four ability states (excellent, good, moderate and poor, see Table 1). <h3>Results:</h3> 996 patients were included with a mean WAI score of 31.7. Overall, 28%/43% of patients were in poor/moderate work ability, who were older, more often obese and with lower education level compared to patients with no impairments in work ability (Table 1). The percentage of patients with predominantly mentally demanding work was higher in patients with good or excellent work ability than in those with moderate or poor work ability. Physical function (BASFI) was associated with the WAI score irrespective whether the patients' work was more mentally or physically demanding (Figure 1). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Work ability is impaired in the majority of axSpA patients as measured by the WAI score. Work ability is associated with known factors like age, obesity and predominantly physically demanding work. Impaired physical function is correlated with work ability both in physically and mentally demanding work. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> Anne Regierer Speaker fees Amgen, BMS, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche , none personal; RABBIT-SpA is supported by a joint, unconditional grant from AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celltrion, Hexal, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB and Viatris, Uta Kiltz: None declared, Anja Weiß none personal; RABBIT-SpA is supported by a joint, unconditional grant from AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celltrion, Hexal, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB and Viatris, Daniel Bestler: None declared, Anja Strangfeld Speaker fees AbbVie, Biogen, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Takeda, none personal; RABBIT-SpA is supported by a joint, unconditional grant from AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celltrion, Hexal, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB and Viatris, Xenofon Baraliakos: None declared.