Assessment of employment status of patients with Takayasu arteritis before and after diagnosis in an Universitary hospital in Rio de Janeiro

BACKGROUNDTakayasu arteritis (TA) is a large-vessel vasculitis that mostly affects aorta and its branches.TA may present in different ways according to its angiographic involvement, with a variety of signs and symptoms causing functional impairment.Considering that in most cases TA affects economically active women (under 40 years old), this study aims to identify its impact on work capacity. METHODSThis is a cross-sectional observational study analyzing patients records and interviews.Third-two outpatients that fulfilled the 1990 ACR classification criteria for TA were included.We analyzed age of onset and diagnosis, angiographic classification, work status before and after diagnosis. RESULTSThird-two patients were included, of which 30 (94%) were women.Mean age at first symptoms was 24 years old (SD 11.6) and mean age at diagnosis was 28 years old (SD 12.46).The most common angiographic involvement was type V (22/69%) followed by Type IIb (5/16%).Before diagnosis, 19 patients (59%) were economically active, 8 (25%) were students (all of them under the age of 18 years old), 4 (13%) were unemployed and 1 (3%) was already retired by age.Currently, most patients are unemployed (14/44%), retired due to TA (7/22%) or in extended sick leave (2/6%).Only 6 (18%) were economically active.After the diagnosis, only 16% (3) of the 19 economically active patients continued to work.42% (8) are now unemployed, 30% (6) got retired due to TA and 10% (2) are in extended sick leave.Considering the 8 patients that were underage and students at the onset of the disease, only 3 (37.5%)are economically active now a days, 3 (37.5%)are unemployed and 2 (25%) are still studying. CONCLUSIONDespite the small number of patients, our findings may indicate that work capacity is impaired by the diagnosis of TA.Most of the economically active patients at the time of diagnosis retired due to it or became unemployed.Only a few of the youngest minor patients at the beginning of the disease became economically active.This might show that disease manifestation can be severe enough to result in functional limitation and negatively impact work and economic status.Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment may be targeted to prevent disease-related-disabilities and its consequences.