To examine employment status amongst people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS)…, they identify predictors of employment status, and investigate factors contributing to absenteeism amongst employed individuals.
This cross-sectional study included 119 pwMS (65 women, mean age, 40.1 years, mean disease duration, 10.0 years). Participants completed self-reported questionnaires assessing employment status, absenteeism, work-related difficulties, perceived fatigue, perceived mobility, bladder and bowel function, fear of falling, and psychological and cognitive factors. The level of disability and information processing speed were also evaluated.
Almost half of the participants (49.6%) were fully employed, 29.4% were partially employed, and 21.0% were unemployed. Unemployed pwMS reported higher levels of fatigue, mobility challenges, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and fear of falling. Perceived fatigue, specifically the physical and cognitive subscales, distinguished fully employed from partially employed individuals and was the most significant predictor of absenteeism (52.7%) of employed participants reported missing work due to multiple sclerosis. No significant differences were observed in depression, anxiety, or cognitive function across employment groups. Fatigue emerged as a critical determinant of employment status and absenteeism in pwMS, in conjunction with physical and functional barriers. Interventions addressing fatigue, mobility, bladder issues, and workplace accommodations are essential for improving employment outcomes. Longitudinal research is warranted to explore causal relationships and guide comprehensive strategies for employment retention.
So faigue physical and cognition is a key determinent affecting employment….This is one of the most common signs that people want research on, but it is one of the poorest understood things…AI.
AI Google says “Fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) stems from a combination of primary fatigue, caused directly by the disease’s impact on the central nervous system, and secondary fatigue, which is triggered by other MS-related issues. Primary fatigue is linked to nerve damage, where the brain must use more energy to send messages through areas affected by demyelination, and involves inflammatory responses and potential brain pathway alterations. Secondary fatigue is a result of other symptoms like pain, poor sleep, depression, and inactivity, which further deplete energy””.
Source: multiple-sclerosis-research.org