Incident rheumatoid arthritis and work loss: a nationwide sibling comparison study
Authors' conclusion
Compared with their same-sex siblings as a surrogate for the counterfactual ideal, RA is still associated with considerable work loss. This difference has, however, declined in recent years, possibly due to earlier diagnosis and improved treatment.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed 2006–2020 aged 30–60 years and their same-sex siblings, Sweden; work loss (sick leave and disability days) from 3 years before to 10 years after diagnosis
- Participants
- 3,850 vs 4,422
- Exposure
- Patients with incident RA vs their same-sex siblings
- RAn = 3,850
- Same-sex siblingsn = 4,422reference
- Outcome
- Work loss (sum of sick leave and disability days), calendar trends by diagnosis period
- Follow-up
- 3 years before up to 10 years after diagnosis
Methodological detailsnationwide, same-sex sibling comparison, stratified by diagnosis period (2006-2011 vs 2012-2020)
- Nationwide
- Same-sex sibling comparison
- Stratified by diagnosis period (2006-2011 vs 2012-2020)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Excess work loss in RA vs same-sex siblings, by diagnosis period
- Excess work loss vs siblings, diagnosed 2012-2020 (days annually)
- 26
- Excess work loss vs siblings, diagnosed 2006-2011 (days annually)
- 47
- Difference between periods
- P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Excess work loss vs same-sex siblings 2-10 years post-diagnosis, by diagnosis period
- Diagnosed 2012-2020 (days annually)
- 11
- Diagnosed 2006-2012 (days annually)
- 29
- Difference between periods
- P = 0.001
- Faster declines in work loss in those diagnosed 2012-2020
Distribution of work loss
- Highly skewed, with a small proportion of patients contributing most of the work loss days
Original publication
Incident rheumatoid arthritis and work loss: a nationwide sibling comparison study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 19 March 2026. doi:10.
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