Background/Purpose:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the work productivity and its relationship with the degree of physical work demand in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Methods:

We included consecutive patients over 18 years of age, working actively, with rotator cuff tendinopathy, diagnosed clinically and ultrasonography. Patients with diagnosis of inflammatory arthropathies, fibromyalgia and any other condition that prevents reading or understanding of the questionnaires were excluded. Demographic variables and work characteristics were determined. Work productivity was assessed using the WPAI:GH questionnaire, and the degree of physical work demand through the Pujol scale.

Results:

48 patients were evaluated, 66.6% were women. The mean age was 48 ± 10 years. The median of duration of symptoms was 3 months (RIC 2-6), and the time of occupation was 40 hours per week (RIC 30-50). The most frequent occupations were domestic staff (34.04%), construction workers (12.77%) and nurses (10.64%). The percentage of patients who performed sedentary or mild work was 47.9% (23/48), while 52.1% (25/48) performed jobs with intermediate, heavy or very heavy physical demand. The tendon most frequently affected was the supraspinatus (64.5%). The median of absenteeism was 20% (RIC 0-41.43 – IC 95: 17.53 to 32.44). We observed a reduced on the job effectiveness (Presenteeism) of 75% (RIC 55-100 – IC 95: 61,26 to 78,31) and a work productivity loss of 85.8% (RIC 60-100 – IC 95: 65,15 to 82,32). The impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) was 60% (RIC 50-80 – IC 95: 53.82 to 69.07). No statistically significant differences were found in any of the WPAI variables in terms of sex, the correlation was low and not significant with respect to age. Significant differences were observed regarding the degree of physical work demand (light work vs. intermediate / heavy work), those who performed intermediate / heavy work had greater impairment at work (85% (RIC 60-100) vs 40% (RIC 20-80) p = 0.008) and loss of total work productivity (90% (RIC 69-100) vs 45% (RIC 20-81.7) p = 0.007).

Conclusion:

In patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy an impairment was observed in the four WPAI variables, being more marked in those patients with occupations that require greater physical demand.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/work-productivity-and-activity-impairment-in-patients-with-rotator-cuff-tendinopathy/