COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES AMONG EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED PATIENTS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS. RESULTS OF THE SPANISH ATLAS 2017

Background: Unemployment is associated with poorer disease outcomes in chronic conditions. Current high rates of unemployment in Spain may lead to a higher burden of disease in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients. Objectives: To evaluate the differences in sociodemographic factors and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between employed and unemployed axSpA patients in the same sample. Methods: Data from 680 unselected patients of the Spanish Atlas of Axial Spondyloarthritis from an online survey were collected in 2016 were analysed. Active workforce participants were divided into employed and unemployed according to International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. Socio-demographic characteristics, and Patient-reported Outcomes (PROs) [BASDAI (0-10), spinal stiffness (3-12), functional limitation (0-54) and psychological distress (0-12, General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12)] were compared between employed and unemployed participants. The Χ2 test was used for qualitative variables and the Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables. Results: In total, 415 (63.6%) patients were categorised in the active population, of which 325 (78.3%) were employed and 90 (21.6%) unemployed (Table 1). 62.8% (N = 86) of unemployed patients declared that axSpA was the cause of their joblessness. Compared to the unemployed, the employed patients had a higher percentage of university studies (47.1% vs 23.3%; p=0.001) and higher income level per family member (€890.4 vs €358.5; p Conclusion: The Spanish Atlas results show significant differences between employed and unemployed patients with axSpA, with greater disease activity, spinal stiffness, functional limitation, and poorer mental health in those who are unemployed. Acknowledgments: Funded by Novartis Pharma AG & Novartis Farmaceutica S.A. Disclosure of Interests: Marco Garrido-Cumbrera: None declared, Jordi Gratacos-Masmitja Grant/research support from: a grant from Pfizzer to study implementation of multidisciplinary units to manage PSA in SPAIN, Consultant of: Pfizzer, MSD, ABBVIE, Janssen, Amgen, BMS, Novartis, Lilly, Speakers bureau: Pfizzer, MSD, ABBVIE, Janssen, Amgen, BMS, Novartis, Lilly, Eduardo Collantes-Estevez Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene., Pedro Zarco Montejo Grant/research support from: Pfizzer, MSD, ABBVIE, Janssen, Amgen, BMS, Novartis, Lilly, Speakers bureau: Pfizzer, MSD, ABBVIE, Janssen, Amgen, BMS, Novartis, Lilly, Carlos Sastre Employee of: YES; I´m Medical Advisor in Novartis Spain, Jose Correa-Fernandez: None declared, Pedro Plazuelo-Ramos: None declared, Victoria Navarro-Compan Consultant of: Abbvie, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, MSD, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB