Prevalence, Indirect Costs, and Risk Factors for Work Disability in Patients with Crohn’s Disease at a Tertiary Care Center in Rio de Janeiro

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 66; no. 9; pp. 2925 - 2934
• Main Authors: de Sá Brito Fróes, Renata, da Luz Moreira, André, Carneiro, Antonio José de V., Moreira, Jessica P. L., Luiz, Ronir R., de Barros Moreira, Adriana Maria Hilu, Monnerat, Camila Cesar, de Souza, Heitor Siffert Pereira, Carvalho, Ana Teresa Pugas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Biochemistry; Brazil - epidemiology; Cost of Illness; Crohn Disease - diagnosis; Crohn Disease - economics; Crohn Disease - epidemiology; Crohn Disease - physiopathology; Databases, Factual; Disability Evaluation; Economic aspects; Employee Performance Appraisal - methods; Employee Performance Appraisal - statistics & numerical data; Female; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Humans; Male; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; Middle Aged; Oncology; Original Article; Pensions - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Social security; Social Security - statistics & numerical data; Tertiary Care Centers; Transplant Surgery; Brazil; Rio de Janeiro Brazil; Inflammatory bowel disease; Work disability; Disease pension; Indirect costs; Crohn’s disease; Productivity loss
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-020-06646-z

Background and Aims Crohn’s disease (CD) can lead to work disability with social and economic impacts worldwide. In Brazil, where its prevalence is increasing, we assessed the indirect costs, prevalence, and risk factors for work disability in the state of Rio de Janeiro and in a tertiary care referral center of the state. Methods Data were retrieved from the database of the Single System of Social Security Benefits Information, with a cross-check for aid pension and disability retirement. A subanalysis was performed with CD patients followed up at the tertiary care referral center using a prospective CD database, including clinical variables assessed as possible risk factors for work disability. Results From 2010 to 2018, the estimated prevalence of CD was 26.05 per 100,000 inhabitants, while the associated work disability was 16.6%, with indirect costs of US$ 8,562,195.86. Permanent disability occurred more frequently in those aged 40 to 49 years. In the referral center, the prevalence of work disability was 16.7%, with a mean interval of 3 years between diagnosis and the first benefit. Risk factors for absence from work were predominantly abdominal surgery, anovaginal fistulas, disease duration, and the A2 profile of the Montreal classification. Conclusions In Rio de Janeiro, work disability affects one-sixth of CD patients, and risk factors are associated with disease duration and complications. In the context of increasing prevalence, as this disability compromises young patients after a relatively short period of disease, the socioeconomic burden of CD is expected to increase in the future.