Update on work disability in rheumatic diseases

Two recent studies suggest the prevalence of rheumatic condition-related wo rk disability is considerably lower than was suggested in previous studies. However, the samples in the recent studies did not include older workers a nd included persons who gained employment after disease onset. In other rec ent studies, the rate of work disability among persons employed at disease onset is still high; a fair amount of work disability occurs in the early y ears of disease. There is no clear evidence yet that treatment improvements have altered the rates of work disability. Because work characteristics, l ike level of physical demand, influence risk for work disability and are po tentially amenable, other interventions are needed to reduce rheumatic dise ase-associated work disability. Accommodation provided to alleviate problem s in doing work and outside of work activities is the most promising interv ention, followed by job/career change. Assessment tools are just now becomi ng available to help clinicians identify patients in need of assistance. (C ) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.