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Rheumatology Advance Access published online on January 22, 2009
Rheumatology, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken497
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© 2008 The Author(s)
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis have increased sick leave—a registry-based case–control study over 7 yrs

Britta Strömbeck1,2, Lennart T. H. Jacobsson1,2, Ann Bremander1,3, Martin Englund1, Anders Heide1,4, Aleksandra Turkiewicz1 and Ingemar F. Petersson1

1Department of Orthopedics, The MORSE project Musculoskeletal Research Center, University Hospital, Lund, 2Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Malmö, 3Research and Development Center, Spenshult Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Halmstad and 4Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Region Skåne, Sweden

Correspondence to: Britta Strömbeck, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. E-mail: britta.strombeck{at}morse.nu


  Abstract

Objectives. Using prospectively collected registry data to investigate sick leave (sickness benefit and sickness compensation) over a 7-yr period in patients with AS in comparison with population-based controls matched for age, sex and residential area.

Methods. We investigated 122 (21 women and 101 men) outpatients with AS in South Sweden, born 1942 or later, from rheumatology specialist care for their sick leave during a 7-yr period. Mean (S.D.) age was 43 (11) yrs and mean (S.D.) disease duration was 20 (11) yrs. Two controls per case, matched for age, sex and residential area were selected from the Swedish National Population Register. Data concerning sick leave for cases and controls, based on the subjects’ unique 10-digit personal identification number, were retrieved from the national register of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.

Results. More AS patients than controls were registered for sickness benefit (52 vs 36%, P < 0.01) and sickness compensation (42 vs 11%, P < 0.001). Cases had an increased risk for sick leave compared with controls with a relative risk of 1.8; 95% CI 1.5, 2.1; and cases had more days with sick leave than controls (median number of more days per year 30; 95% CI 2, 72).

Conclusions. Using the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's registers for sick leave, we found that patients with AS in rheumatology specialist care in South Sweden have an increased level of sick leave compared with controls. These population-based registers have a great potential for studies of the effects of different interventions on sick leave.

KEY WORDS: Ankylosing spondylitis, Sick leave, Work disability, Controlled study, Register

Submitted 21 April 2008; revised version accepted 8 December 2008.
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