SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS IN ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS - RELATIONSHIP BETWEENOCCUPATION AND DISEASE-ACTIVITY

Objective. To identify the socioeconomic status through occupation of a large cohort of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to det ermine possible relationships between occupation and clinical variable s, Methods. We analyzed the employment status of 1044 patients with AS . Results. 85% of patients (890 of 1044) were in full employment at th e time of the assessment compared to 15% who were unemployed, When 50 employed patients were compared to 50 unemployed cases, the latter had increased disease activity and lower psychosocial well being, Conclus ion. Employed patients from the higher occupational group (1), had les s disease activity, and lower pain and depression than patients from t he lowest occupational group (IV).