Contributions
Abstract: EP1420
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 9 Economic burden
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects young adults and can lead to significant disability and unemployment. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of multiple sclerosis on employment across age groups.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional retrospective data analysis using a clinical database containing patient data from a single tertiary care MS center after IRB approval. Patients were divided by years since diagnosis: < 10, 10-19, 20-29, ≥30. For each group the percentage of patients on government certified disability and/or unemployed was calculated. The percentage of patients who were on disability, unemploymed, and/or retired was also calculated.
Results: A total of 854 patients age 18 to 65 with a diagnosis of MS were included in the study
(F=620, M=234). Patients < 18 or >65 years of age or with no employment data available were excluded. Of these patients 612 (71.6%) carried a diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), 179 (21.0%) carried a diagnosis of secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and 63 (7.4%) carried a diagnosis of primary progressive MS (PPMS). Among all patients 186 (21.8%) patients were on disability and/or unemployed. Furthermore, 267 (31.3%) patients were on disability, unemployed, and/or retired. The percentage of patients who were either unemployed or on disability was higher among patients who were at least
10 years from diagnosis (33.8% vs. 23.1%). Age at diagnosis was not associated with disability and/or unemployment status (p=0.822). The percentage of patients on disability, unemployed, and/or retired increased with number of years since diagnosis and included 28.4% of patients with < 10 years since diagnosis and 77.8% of patients with ≥30 years since diagnosis. Patients w/ PPMS were more likely to be disabled, unemployed, and/or retired (p< 0.001). Male and female patients were equally likely to be unemployed and/or on disability.
Conclusion: The percentage of patients who are on disability or are unemployed is higher in patients who have carried a diagnosis of MS for at least 10 years. PPMS patients were the more likely to be unemployed when compared to patients with either RRMS or SPMS. Furthermore, neither age at diagnosis nor patient sex was associated with employment status.
Disclosure:
Brian Wong: nothing to disclose
Jonathan Cahill: nothing to disclose
Andrew Bouley: nothing to disclose
Alison Daigle: nothing to disclose
Tinting Zhang: nothing to disclose
Syed Rizvi: nothing to disclose
Abstract: EP1420
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 9 Economic burden
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects young adults and can lead to significant disability and unemployment. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of multiple sclerosis on employment across age groups.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional retrospective data analysis using a clinical database containing patient data from a single tertiary care MS center after IRB approval. Patients were divided by years since diagnosis: < 10, 10-19, 20-29, ≥30. For each group the percentage of patients on government certified disability and/or unemployed was calculated. The percentage of patients who were on disability, unemploymed, and/or retired was also calculated.
Results: A total of 854 patients age 18 to 65 with a diagnosis of MS were included in the study
(F=620, M=234). Patients < 18 or >65 years of age or with no employment data available were excluded. Of these patients 612 (71.6%) carried a diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), 179 (21.0%) carried a diagnosis of secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and 63 (7.4%) carried a diagnosis of primary progressive MS (PPMS). Among all patients 186 (21.8%) patients were on disability and/or unemployed. Furthermore, 267 (31.3%) patients were on disability, unemployed, and/or retired. The percentage of patients who were either unemployed or on disability was higher among patients who were at least
10 years from diagnosis (33.8% vs. 23.1%). Age at diagnosis was not associated with disability and/or unemployment status (p=0.822). The percentage of patients on disability, unemployed, and/or retired increased with number of years since diagnosis and included 28.4% of patients with < 10 years since diagnosis and 77.8% of patients with ≥30 years since diagnosis. Patients w/ PPMS were more likely to be disabled, unemployed, and/or retired (p< 0.001). Male and female patients were equally likely to be unemployed and/or on disability.
Conclusion: The percentage of patients who are on disability or are unemployed is higher in patients who have carried a diagnosis of MS for at least 10 years. PPMS patients were the more likely to be unemployed when compared to patients with either RRMS or SPMS. Furthermore, neither age at diagnosis nor patient sex was associated with employment status.
Disclosure:
Brian Wong: nothing to disclose
Jonathan Cahill: nothing to disclose
Andrew Bouley: nothing to disclose
Alison Daigle: nothing to disclose
Tinting Zhang: nothing to disclose
Syed Rizvi: nothing to disclose