Factors associated with work status in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome
employment
mental disorders
occupation
well-being
Journal
Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)
ISSN: 1471-8405
Titre abrégé: Occup Med (Lond)
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9205857
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 Oct 2019
01 Oct 2019
Historique:
pubmed:
4
8
2019
medline:
14
4
2020
entrez:
4
8
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Work status in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has not been extensively researched. To explore occupational outcomes in patients with CFS by socio-demographic, well-being and disease characteristics. We assessed cross-sectional data from patients attending a UK specialist CFS treatment service between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2014. The main outcome was self-reported current employment status: currently in employment, temporarily interrupted employment or permanently interrupted employment. Other variables included sex, age, ethnicity, education, marital status, CFS duration, fatigue severity, anxiety, depression, activity limitations and functional impairment. We used multinominal logistic regression models to identify factors associated with current work status. Two hundred and seventy-nine (55%) patients were currently working, with 83 (16%) reporting temporarily interrupted employment and 146 (29%) stopping work altogether. Factors strongly associated with permanently interrupted employment were older age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.24; 95% CI 2.67-10.28), poorer functioning (AOR 6.41; 95% CI 3.65-11.24) and depressive symptoms (AOR 2.89; 95% CI 1.82-4.58) compared to patients currently working. Higher educated patients (AOR 0.60; 95% CI 0.37-0.97) and being in a relationship (AOR 0.34; 95% CI 0.21-0.54) were associated with being currently employed. Anxiety symptoms were common; 230 patients (45%) met caseness criteria. Many patients with CFS were not working. This was exacerbated by high levels of depressive symptoms. Health professionals should assess co-morbid mental health conditions and consider treatment options when patients with CFS present themselves. The early involvement of occupational health practitioners is recommended to maximize the chances of maintaining employment.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Work status in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has not been extensively researched.
AIMS
OBJECTIVE
To explore occupational outcomes in patients with CFS by socio-demographic, well-being and disease characteristics.
METHODS
METHODS
We assessed cross-sectional data from patients attending a UK specialist CFS treatment service between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2014. The main outcome was self-reported current employment status: currently in employment, temporarily interrupted employment or permanently interrupted employment. Other variables included sex, age, ethnicity, education, marital status, CFS duration, fatigue severity, anxiety, depression, activity limitations and functional impairment. We used multinominal logistic regression models to identify factors associated with current work status.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Two hundred and seventy-nine (55%) patients were currently working, with 83 (16%) reporting temporarily interrupted employment and 146 (29%) stopping work altogether. Factors strongly associated with permanently interrupted employment were older age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.24; 95% CI 2.67-10.28), poorer functioning (AOR 6.41; 95% CI 3.65-11.24) and depressive symptoms (AOR 2.89; 95% CI 1.82-4.58) compared to patients currently working. Higher educated patients (AOR 0.60; 95% CI 0.37-0.97) and being in a relationship (AOR 0.34; 95% CI 0.21-0.54) were associated with being currently employed. Anxiety symptoms were common; 230 patients (45%) met caseness criteria.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Many patients with CFS were not working. This was exacerbated by high levels of depressive symptoms. Health professionals should assess co-morbid mental health conditions and consider treatment options when patients with CFS present themselves. The early involvement of occupational health practitioners is recommended to maximize the chances of maintaining employment.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31375832
pii: 5543260
doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqz108
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
453-458Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.