Abstract: P371
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has a major impact on work ability and employment status.
Objective: We aimed to validate a recently developed set of instruments assessing predictive factors for employment that consist of standardized questionnaires and objective performance tests.
Methods: For the current study we included 102 employed MS patients (mean age 44.7 years, 64 % females, median EDSS 4.0), all admitted to inpatient rehabilitation, and administered the following patient-reported instruments: Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ), Würzburger Screening (WüScr), and subjective dimensions of mood (CES-D), pain (BPI), vision (NEI-VFQ), mobility/balance (MSWS-12), fear of falling (FES-I), fatigue (WEIMuS), cognitive complaints (MSNQ) and quality of life (MSIS-29). Objective performance tests were 2 min walking test, 10 m walking test, timed-get-up-and-go, Tinetti score, comprehensive neuropsychological testing, and visual testing. Six months after rehabilitation, patients were re-contacted via questionnaires to gather information about their current employment situation.
Results: The questionnaire was returned by 76 patients (75%). Of these, 62 patients (82%) were still employed, and 9 patients (12%) were prematurely retired; the remaining 5 patients were still in sick leave and/or uncertain about their future situation. According to WüScr, 8/9 patients (89%) of the retirees had stated high burden with regard to employment already when admitted to rehabilitation, and according to MSWDQ, 7/9 (78%) had planned to withdraw work. The proportions of patients with abnormal test results were higher in retired compared to employed patients for mood (CES-D 67% vs 29%), physical fatigue (WEIMUS 56% vs 42%), cognitive difficulties (MSNQ 89% vs 44%) and pain (78% vs 55%); these results reached significance for MSNQ (p< 0.02). MSIS-29 scores were also significantly impaired in retired patients (54.0±18.9 vs. 38.0±14.9, p< 0.005). MSWS-12 and objective test results for mobility were not significantly different between both groups.
Conclusion: The results of our study underline the high impact of “hidden” symptoms in MS on employment and validated the set of instruments that were developed to properly assess employment-related difficulties in MS patients. With these instruments, specific rehabilitation programs could be tailored towards the needs of MS patients in order to keep them as long as possible in the work process.
Disclosure: This work is funded by a research grant from the German Pension Insurance ("Deutsche Rentenversicherung Baden-Württemberg").
Peter Flachenecker has received speaker"s fees and honoraria for advisory boards from Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, Merck-Serono, Roche and Teva. He has participated in pharmaceutical company sponsored trials by Almirall, Biogen and Novartis. None resulted in a conflict of interest.
Christiane Sterz: nothing to disclosure
Heike Meissner: nothing to disclosure
Klaus Gusowski: nothing to disclosure
Abstract: P371
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has a major impact on work ability and employment status.
Objective: We aimed to validate a recently developed set of instruments assessing predictive factors for employment that consist of standardized questionnaires and objective performance tests.
Methods: For the current study we included 102 employed MS patients (mean age 44.7 years, 64 % females, median EDSS 4.0), all admitted to inpatient rehabilitation, and administered the following patient-reported instruments: Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ), Würzburger Screening (WüScr), and subjective dimensions of mood (CES-D), pain (BPI), vision (NEI-VFQ), mobility/balance (MSWS-12), fear of falling (FES-I), fatigue (WEIMuS), cognitive complaints (MSNQ) and quality of life (MSIS-29). Objective performance tests were 2 min walking test, 10 m walking test, timed-get-up-and-go, Tinetti score, comprehensive neuropsychological testing, and visual testing. Six months after rehabilitation, patients were re-contacted via questionnaires to gather information about their current employment situation.
Results: The questionnaire was returned by 76 patients (75%). Of these, 62 patients (82%) were still employed, and 9 patients (12%) were prematurely retired; the remaining 5 patients were still in sick leave and/or uncertain about their future situation. According to WüScr, 8/9 patients (89%) of the retirees had stated high burden with regard to employment already when admitted to rehabilitation, and according to MSWDQ, 7/9 (78%) had planned to withdraw work. The proportions of patients with abnormal test results were higher in retired compared to employed patients for mood (CES-D 67% vs 29%), physical fatigue (WEIMUS 56% vs 42%), cognitive difficulties (MSNQ 89% vs 44%) and pain (78% vs 55%); these results reached significance for MSNQ (p< 0.02). MSIS-29 scores were also significantly impaired in retired patients (54.0±18.9 vs. 38.0±14.9, p< 0.005). MSWS-12 and objective test results for mobility were not significantly different between both groups.
Conclusion: The results of our study underline the high impact of “hidden” symptoms in MS on employment and validated the set of instruments that were developed to properly assess employment-related difficulties in MS patients. With these instruments, specific rehabilitation programs could be tailored towards the needs of MS patients in order to keep them as long as possible in the work process.
Disclosure: This work is funded by a research grant from the German Pension Insurance ("Deutsche Rentenversicherung Baden-Württemberg").
Peter Flachenecker has received speaker"s fees and honoraria for advisory boards from Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, Merck-Serono, Roche and Teva. He has participated in pharmaceutical company sponsored trials by Almirall, Biogen and Novartis. None resulted in a conflict of interest.
Christiane Sterz: nothing to disclosure
Heike Meissner: nothing to disclosure
Klaus Gusowski: nothing to disclosure