Closing the gap: Longitudinal changes in employment for Australians with multiple sclerosis

Dijk, Pieter Andrew Van; Kirk-Brown, Andrea; Taylor, Bruce; Mei, Ingrid van der

doi:10.1177/1352458516678934

Cited by 24 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Our findings consistently showed that those who used higher efficacy DMTs (eg, fingolimod and natalizumab) were two to three times more likely to report that DMTs increased their amount of work, work attendance and work productivity compared with patients who used classical injectable DMTs (β-interferons and glatiramer acetate in our study). Our findings are corroborated by the indirect evidence that the increase in use of higher efficacy DMTs since 2010 aligns with the increased employment rates of people with MS in Australia from 2010 to 201312. Taken together, our study suggest that prescribing higher efficacy DMTs to people with RRMS, particularly those of working age, may bring them significant benefits in work productivity and workforce participation compared with the classical first-line injectable DMTs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies on employment measures using patient-reported data

Chen

Taylor

Blizzard

et al. 2018

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…We have recently shown that the employment rate of Australians with MS has increased from 48.8% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2013 12. The factors associated with this encouraging improvement are largely unclear but increased availability of more potent DMTs may be an important contributor 13.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies on employment measures using patient-reported data

Chen

Taylor

Blizzard

et al. 2018

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

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“…Loss of productivity is now responsible for 32% of the costs of MS in Australia ($1.75 billion annually in 2017) [33]. Fortunately, this has reduced from 49% in 2010 [34], likely due to employers providing more work role and/or environment adjustments [35] and improvements in disease modifying therapies [36], enabling people to stay in employment longer. Assisting people to maintain employment will therefore benefit society, PwMS and their families.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Change in Employment Status and Associations with Quality of Life: A Prospective International Study of People with Multiple Sclerosis

et al. 2019

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Purpose This prospective international study aimed to assess the changes in employment, and predictors thereof, and associated change in mental health quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods People with MS were recruited online through social media, forums and newsletters to complete an online English-language survey in 2012 and again in 2015, to assess changes in employment and clinical characteristics. Results 1276 people with MS of working age were included of whom 35.9% were employed full time, 25.6% part-time, 3.1% were unemployed and seeking employment, 19.7% were retired due to disability and 15.7% were not in the labour force. Part/full time employment decreased from 61.4 to 57.1% of the sample 2.5 years later, and 25.5% experienced some change in employment status. Lower level of education and higher level of disability at baseline predicted loss of employment at follow-up. 62.0% of the sample indicated that MS impacted on employment over their lifetime, associated with a lower level of education and progressive MS at time of diagnosis. Retiring due to disability was predictive of a decreased mental health related QOL score. Conclusion Employment status was negatively impacted by MS for most participants. We showed for the first time that employment loss was prospectively associated with poorer mental health related quality of life. Employment support including vocational services, reasonable flexibility in the workplace, and legal protection against discrimination should be widely available to assist people with MS, especially for those with progressive onset MS, higher disability and lower levels of education who are at higher risk of employment loss.

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“…An Australian MS Needs Analysis study reported that 66% of participants with mild MS were employed, which decreased to 39% of those with moderate MS and only 9% of those with severe MS. 20 Based on data from the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study (AMSLS), 48.8% of people with MS were employed either full-time or part-time compared with 63.1% of the Australian general population in 2010, rising to 57.8% in 2013 which was still significantly lower than the general population employment rate of 61.4%. 21 A more recent study also using AMSLS data reported an overall labor force participation rate of 54.7% among working-aged respondents (18-64 years). 22 However, less than 4% of participants in this analysis of work productivity loss had PPMS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Societal costs of primary progressive multiple sclerosis in Australia and the economic impact of a hypothetical disease-modifying treatment that could delay disease progression

Brown

Brunner³

et al. 2021

Journal of Medical Economics

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Aims: Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) has a progressive course of disability with continuous neurological worsening. We investigated societal costs of PPMS in Australia and the economic impact of increasing the independence of people with PPMS through delaying disease progression. Methods: This prevalence-based retrospective cost-of-illness analysis used observational data from publicly available secondary data sources and literature findings. Direct and indirect costs of PPMS were considered. A replica estimated population was created using the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) microsimulation model of the Australian tax and transfer system (STINMODþ). Using a budget impact analysis approach, we modelled the effect on PPMS costs of an effective hypothetical disease-modifying treatment (DMT) that delays disease progression by a year from mild to moderate and a further year from moderate to severe PPMS. Results: An estimated 31,650 Australians have multiple sclerosis (MS) including 4,430 with PPMS. The proportion with PPMS was estimated to increase with age and disease severity. Overall 25% of males with MS, and 10% of females, were estimated to have PPMS. Societal cost of PPMS in Australia in 2018 was estimated at AU$418.1 million. Indirect costs contributed 67.5% of total costs, attributable to reduced workforce participation and need for informal care. The modelled DMT was estimated to create savings of AU$14.9 million (3.6%). Fewer people had moderate and severe PPMS resulting in major cost savings, partially offset by increased costs of treatment, care and support for a relative increase in the number of people with mild PPMS and their increased productivity losses. Limitations: Publicly available data may be incomplete. The potential cost of the DMT was not considered. Conclusions: The economic burden of PPMS was estimated at AU$418 million in 2018. An effective DMT that delayed progression from disease severity states by one year could provide significant cost savings.

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Closing the gap: Longitudinal changes in employment for Australians with multiple sclerosis

Abstract: The gap in employment between PwMS and the general population has substantially reduced from 2010 to 2013, with organisations responding positively to requests for work role/environment adjustments.

Cited by 24 publications

References 23 publications

Effects of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies on employment measures using patient-reported data

Effects of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies on employment measures using patient-reported data

Predictors of Change in Employment Status and Associations with Quality of Life: A Prospective International Study of People with Multiple Sclerosis

Societal costs of primary progressive multiple sclerosis in Australia and the economic impact of a hypothetical disease-modifying treatment that could delay disease progression

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