Bmc Musculoskel Dis
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Bmc Musculoskel Dis · Apr 2011
Evaluating the health and economic impact of osteoarthritis pain in the workforce: results from the National Health and Wellness Survey.
There has been increasing recognition that osteoarthritis (OA) affects younger individuals who are still participants in the workforce, but there are only limited data on the contribution of OA pain to work productivity and other outcomes in an employed population. This study evaluated the impact of OA pain on healthcare resource utilization, productivity and costs in employed individuals. ⋯ A substantial proportion of workers suffer from OA pain. After controlling for confounders, the impact of OA pain was significant, resulting in lower productivity and higher costs.