Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Western China impacts employment and increases financial burden in women

Han, Lin; Hong, Peiwei; Yang, Wankou; Cai, Luyao; Shi, Ziyan; Wang, Jiancheng; Lang, Yanlin; Zhou, Hongyu

doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.973163

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…In Western China, Han et al recently studied 351 females with NMOSD, finding lower education (middle school or below), older age, higher annual disease recurrence rate, and severe disability were each predictors of unemployment. 17 Similar to our study, 54% of participants reported that NMOSD led to job loss. Education level was not a significant predictor of unemployment in our study; however, our cohort had less variation, since all except one participant in our cohort had completed high school, while 59% of participants in Han et al's study completed high school or above.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

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Impact of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder on employment and income in the United States

Hjerthen,

Trápaga Hacker,

Meador

et al. 2024

Ann Clin Transl Neurol

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Background and ObjectivesWe aim to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with loss of jobs, income, and work hours in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in the United States.MethodsA REDCap‐based survey was administered to working‐age NMOSD patients (18–70 years old) querying demographic information, symptoms, immunosuppression, work hours, income, and caregiver work (11/2022–07/2023). Regression models were developed using MATLAB.ResultsOf 127 participants (97 female; 55% AQP4‐antibody, 19% MOG antibody; 69% Caucasian, 7% Hispanic), with an average diagnosis age of 38.7 years, average disease duration of 6.4 years, mean 3.1 attacks, and 94% of whom were treated with immune system‐directed therapy (53% rituximab, 8% satralizumab, 7% eculizumab, 6% mycophenolate mofetil, 4% inebilizumab, 2% azathioprine, 10% IVIg, 10% other), 56% lost a job due to NMOSD. Employment decreased 12% (80% pre‐ to 68% post‐diagnosis). Thirty‐six percent of participants said they no longer worked outside the home. Significant predictors for post‐NMOSD diagnosis employment status included younger age, lower pain level, no walking aids, and having a job prediagnosis.Sixty‐eight percent of those employed prediagnosis reduced their work hours, dropping an average of 18.4 h per month since being diagnosed (±10.1 h). Average annual income grew slowly at $1998 during the average 6.4 years of disease duration (14% of the value predicted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Sixty percent of participants had a regular unpaid caregiver; 34% of caregivers changed their work hours or job to help manage NMOSD.DiscussionWe provide a structured analysis of the impact of NMOSD on employment, work hours, and income in the United States, demonstrating its major effect on the livelihoods of patients and their caregivers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…In Western China, Han et al. recently studied 351 females with NMOSD, finding lower education (middle school or below), older age, higher annual disease recurrence rate, and severe disability were each predictors of unemployment 17 . Similar to our study, 54% of participants reported that NMOSD led to job loss.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%