Objectives To determine the burden on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on patient's occupational activities

Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of SLE patients, fulfilling SLICC/ACR 2012 classification criteria. All patients were assessed for disease activity by SLEDAI, damage index by SLICC/ACR DI, general assessments by PGA and MGDA. We collected data on work activity using the Work Productivity Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire for lupus patients. All patients completed the SF-8 questionnaire, estimating physical and mental component summaries (PCS and MCS) of the quality of life (QoL).

Results The study included 102 SLE patients, 94,1% females, mean age ±SD 42,4±13,3 (range 20–73) years, mean disease duration±SD 93,9±77,1 (range 0,1–228) months. A proportion of 34,3% of the patients had high university education. The employment history in our cohort included: 23,5% of subjects were working full time and 3,9% part time. Meantime, 58,8% of patients had disability for SLE and 6,9% - disability for other disease than SLE; 3,9% of the subjects were studying and 2% were not employed at the moment of the questionning. The results of WPAI questionnaire confirmed a dicrease of all work domains, by absenteism (10%) and presenteism (63.4%). To be noticed that 20 from 28 working subjects were missing from their work during last 12 months during 15,3 days (range 5–40 days) for SLE problems. The analysis of the QoL showed a dicrease of both components, PCS and MCS were 43,2±9,6 and 46,9±13,4 points, respectively. According to the results, the level of the QoL and the disease activity were predictors for impaired work productivity (R²=0.21 and R²=0.5, p<0.05).

Conclusions Systemic lupus erythematosus had a substantial burden on patient's occupational activities, high disease activity and low indices of the quality of life were predictors for impaired work productivity.

Disclosure of Interest None declared