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140799 - Risk factors for leaving employment due to multiple sclerosis - Final author version.pdf (805.15 kB)

Risk factors for leaving employment due to multiple sclerosis and changes in risk over the past decades: using competing risk survival analysis

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posted on 2023-05-20, 17:33 authored by Chen, J, Bruce TaylorBruce Taylor, Christopher BlizzardChristopher Blizzard, Steve Simpson JRSteve Simpson JR, Andrew PalmerAndrew Palmer, Kirk-Brown, A, Van Dijk, P, Ingrid van der MeiIngrid van der Mei
Background: No studies have assessed changes in employment survival in multiple sclerosis (MS) populations over recent decades, including the introduction of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Objectives: To evaluate factors associated with leaving employment due to MS; to assess whether the risk of leaving employment has changed over recent decades in Australia, stratified by MS phenotype.

Methods: We included 1240 participants who were working before MS diagnosis. Information on employment status, reasons for leaving employment and year of leaving were collected. Data were analysed using competing risk survival analysis.

Results: Males, progressive MS, lower education level and older age at diagnosis were associated with a higher sub-distribution hazard of leaving employment. Compared to the period before 2010, the sub-distribution hazard during 2010-2016 for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) was reduced by 43% (sub-distribution hazard ratio (sHR) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50 to 0.90), while no significant reduction was seen for primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) (sHR 1.25, 95% CI: 0.72 to 2.16) or secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) (sHR 1.37, 95% CI: 0.84 to 2.25).

Conclusion: Males, people with progressive MS and those of lower education level were at higher risk of leaving employment. The differential changed risk of leaving employment between people with different MS phenotype after 2010 coincides with the increased usage of high-efficacy DMTs for RRMS.

History

Publication title

Multiple Sclerosis Journal

Pagination

1-12

ISSN

1352-4585

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Arnold

Place of publication

Hodder Headline Plc, 338 Euston Road, London, England, Nw1 3Bh

Rights statement

© The Author(s), 2020. This article has been accepted for publication and published online

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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