Predictive factors for work‐day loss in Behçet's syndrome: A multi‐center study

• Published in: International journal of rheumatic diseases Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 240 - 246
• Main Authors: Mumcu, Gonca, Yay, Meral, Aksoy, Aysun, Taş, Mehmet Nedim, Armağan, Berkan, Sarı, Alper, Bozca, Burçin Cansu, Tekgöz, Emre, Karadağ, Duygu Temiz, Badak, Suade Özlem, Tecer, Duygu, Bes, Cemal, Şahin, Ali, Erken, Eren, Cefle, Ayse, Çınar, Muhammet, Yılmaz, Sedat, Karaçaylı, Ümit, Alpsoy, Erkan, Şenel, Soner, Yaşar Bilge, Şule, Kaşifoğlu, Timuçin, Karadağ, Ömer, Aksu, Kenan, Keser, Gökhan, Alibaz‐Öner, Fatma, İnanç, Nevsun, Ergun, Tülin, Direskeneli, Haner
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Adult; Behcet Syndrome - diagnosis; Behcet Syndrome - drug therapy; Behcet Syndrome - economics; Behçet's disease; Costs and Cost Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Male; ocular involvement; Patients; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; vascular involvement; Vein & artery diseases; Work - statistics & numerical data; work‐day loss; work-day loss; Behçet's disease; vascular involvement; ocular involvement
• ISSN: 1756-1841; 1756-185X
• DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.13771

Objective The aim of this multi‐center study was to assess predictive factors for work‐day loss as an indirect cost element in Behçet's syndrome (BS). Methods In this cross‐sectional, multi‐center study, 834 BS patients (F/M: 441/393, age mean: 38.4 ± 10.9 years) were included. Data were collected by a questionnaire regarding treatment protocols, disease duration, smoking pattern, frequency of medical visits during the previous year and self‐reported work‐day loss during the previous year. Results Work‐day loss was observed in 16.2% of patients (M/F: 103/32). The percentages of being a smoker (81.8%), using immunosuppressive (IS) medications (82%), and having disease duration <5 years (74%) were higher in male patients with work‐day loss (P < .05). The majority of males (90.9%) had more than four clinic visits during the previous year. Moreover, the mean work‐day loss (30.8 ± 57.7 days) was higher in patients with vascular involvement (56.1 ± 85.9) than those without (26.4 ± 50.6 days) (P = .046). In addition, increased frequency of ocular involvement (25.9%) was also observed in patients with work‐day loss compared to others (8.6%) (P = .059). Conclusion Work‐day loss was associated with both vascular and ocular involvement. Close associations were observed among male gender, early period of the disease, frequent medical visits, being a smoker and treatment with IS medications in patients with work‐day loss.