Occupational medicine
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Occupational medicine · Jan 2006
ReviewSystematic review of studies of productivity loss due to rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating disease with a significant impact on workplace productivity. ⋯ RA-related work-disability rates were similar in the USA and European countries. An apparent decrease in the prevalence of RA-related work disability since the 1970s may be related to a decrease in physically demanding work rather than to epidemiologic changes in RA. The majority of the literature addresses permanent disability and temporary work loss; none of the studies reviewed reported the effect of RA on presenteeism, i.e. work limitation from the employer perspective, and there are few published studies of the effectiveness of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in reducing work-related productivity loss.