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[Work capacity evaluation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

The aim of the study was to establish the employment and working ability for patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The study was performed using a questionnaire mailed to 185 patients with verified diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis who were treated at the Department of Rheumatology of the University Hospital "Sestre milosrdnice" in Zagreb in the last 5 years. The questionnaire included a few categories of questions and here we analysed those referring the working abilities. The answers were obtained from 92 patients. We took in account the data for 79 patients who fall into the age group of working population (men to 65 yrs, women to 60 yrs.). In that group there were 50 men and 29 women. Twenty-six patients have a full time job, 7 patients have a part-time job, one changed the job and 45 of them are retired. The difference of working abilities was observed regarding to the physical requirement for the job (P < 0.05) and the duration of the disease (P < 0.05). Among the patients who are retired majority stated that ankylosing spondylitis was the cause of their retirement. As for the patients who still work (N = 34), 14 of them were not on sick-leave the last year at all, 2 of them were absent up to one week, 10 patients were absent from 1 to 4 weeks, 3 patients were on sick-leave from 1 to 3 months, and 5 of them more than 3 months. Statistically significant difference was observed in sick-leave rate regarding to the physical requirements for the job (P < 0.01), but not regarding to the duration of the disease (P > 0.05). The results of our study suggest that ankylosing spondylitis reduce the working ability especially for patients who have a hard job. There is an imperative to maintain the working abilities of patients with ankylosing spondylitis as long as possible.