AS Can Lead to Poorer Work Performance

Individuals with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are more likely to experience fatigue and depression than their AS-free counterparts, which can result in worsened work instability, according to findings from a case-control study.

To reach this conclusion, the researchers evaluated 61 participants with AS who were working and matched them according to sex and age with 40 participants without AS who were working.

All participants were measured for levels of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and work instability. Participants with AS were measured for levels of pain, disease activity, functionality, and spine stiffness.

According to the researchers, participants with AS had higher scores of depression, fatigue, and work instability than the healthy controls. With the exception of spinal mobility, all of the clinical parameters had a positive correlation of significantly worsening across the levels of work instability.

Further, fatigue, pain, and functional capacity scores impacted variables on work instability scores.

“The recognition and improvement of fatigue and depression may lead to reduced risk of job loss in these patients,” the researchers concluded.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Ulus Y, Akyol Y, Bilgici A, Kuru O. Association of work instability with fatigue and emotional status in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: comparison with healthy controls. [published online November 17, 2018]. Clin Rheumatol. doi: 10.1007/s10067-018-4366-x.