Reference intervals of work ability and productivity loss and their use in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
Authors' conclusion
Work ability and productivity are not perfect in the general population, based on the newly developed RIs for the three work outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (iRMDs) and population controls without iRMDs having paid work, participating in a Dutch cohort study413 controls
- Exposure
- Patients with iRMDs vs population controls without iRMDs
- Controlsn = 413reference
- Outcome
- Reference intervals for work ability (0-10), at-work productivity loss and overall productivity loss (0%-100%) in the general working population
Methodological detailsgeneralised additive model for location, shape and scale parameters, age-specific reference intervals (RIs) and percentile curves
- Generalised additive model for location, shape and scale parameters
- Age-specific RIs and percentile curves
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Work outcomes in controls
| Group | Value | At-work productivity loss, mean (SD) | Overall work productivity loss, mean (SD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controls | mean 8.7 (SD 1.6) | 6.3% (7.2) | 11% (25.6) |
Controls
Valuemean 8.7 (SD 1.6)
At-work productivity loss, mean (SD)6.3% (7.2)
Overall work productivity loss, mean (SD)11% (25.6)
- Work ability 95% RI, age 22 to 29 years
- 5.9-10
- Work ability 95% RI, age 50 to 59 years
- 4.9-9.1
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Patients had worse work outcomes than controls, especially for at-work and overall productivity loss
Original publication
Reference intervals of work ability and productivity loss and their use in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. RMD Open. Published 6 January 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →