Background/Purpose: Having arthritis is known to affect labour force participation. Most research has focused on individuals with doctor-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and, to a lesser extent, doctor-diagnosed osteoarthritis (OA). However, for younger working-age adults in particular, OA is often underdiagnosed and underreported. Using a national population-based sample and with a focus on age-specific associations, we compared labour force participation among individuals with doctor diagnosed OA, RA or other arthritis types, and those with joint symptoms but no diagnosis.

Methods: Data are from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (Cycle 1), a national study with sociodemographic, economic and health data from Canadians aged 45-85. All data were self-reported and include questions on labour force participation, and if respondents had doctor-diagnosed RA/other type of arthritis, or OA (hands, hips or knees). Respondents also reported on joint symptoms in these joints. Five mutually exclusive groups were derived: controls (no arthritis/no joint symptoms), RA/other, OA, and for those with no arthritis diagnosis but with symptoms, single joint site and 2-3 joint site symptoms.

Age-stratified (45-54/55-64/64-74) log-binomial regressions were used to examine the association (reported as prevalence ratios) between labour force participation and group membership. Analyses were adjusted for sex, education, dependent (≤18 years of age) living at home and comorbidities.

Results: From a sample of 24,813, 20% had OA, 12% RA/other types of arthritis, and 19% and 6% had 1 joint site symptoms and 2-3 joint site symptoms, respectively, without an arthritis diagnosis (Table 1).

In the youngest age group (45-54) individuals with OA, RA/other, and those with 2-3 joint symptoms but without a diagnosis were equally likely to be out of the labour force (Table 2). Among those aged 54-64, those with OA and RA/other types were equally likely to have an increased likelihood of being out of the labour force. No differences in labour force participation were found between the groups in the older age group.

Conclusion: OA and RA/other arthritis types were similarly associated with being out of the labour force for working age adults. Importantly, among individuals in the youngest age group, individuals with symptoms at 2-3 joint sites but without a diagnosis were as likely to be out of the labour force as those with OA and RA/other arthritis types. Younger individuals may be less likely to make a physician visit for joint symptoms or to receive an arthritis diagnosis. An exclusive focus on diagnosed arthritis may miss an important segment of the population to target with interventions to positively impact labour force participation.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/labour-force-participation-among-individuals-with-osteoarthritis-rheumatoid-arthritis-other-arthritis-types-or-with-joint-symptoms-but-without-a-diagnosis-an-age-stratified-population-based-study/