Full title: Musculoskeletal pain in the workforce: the effects of back, arthritis, and fibromyalgia pain on quality of life and work productivity.
Authors: McDonald M, Dibonaventura MD, Ullman S.
Source: From Pfizer Inc (Dr McDonald) and Kantar Health (Dr DiBonaventura, Ms Ullman), New York, NY.
Publication: J Occup Environ Med.
Publication date: July 2011
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of musculoskeletal pain on health-related quality of life and work productivity losses among US workers.
METHODS: Data from the 2008 US National Health and Wellness Survey were used. Among those currently employed aged 20 to 64 years (N = 30,868), workers with arthritis (n = 2,670), back (n = 4,920), and fibromyalgia (n = 439) pain were compared with workers without those respective musculoskeletal pain conditions.
RESULTS: Arthritis, back, and fibromyalgia pain were all associated with significantly lower levels of health-related quality of life, often at clinically meaningful levels. All pain conditions were associated with higher levels of work productivity loss, even after adjusting for demographic and health characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal pain conditions were highly prevalent and associated with a significant burden. Improved management of these conditions may lead to improved productivity, benefiting both employers and workers alike.
PMID:21685799[PubMed - in process]
View the abstract in PubMed.
