Dados do Trabalho

Title

WORK DISABILITY IN ANKYLOSING SPONDILITIS: ANALYSIS OF PREVENTIVE BENEFITS IN BRAZIL FROM TO 2005-2017

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), is a chronic inflammatory disorder involving primarily the sacroiliac joints and the axial skeleton. It is usually associated with several articular and periarticular extraspinal features, including synovitis, enthesitis, dactylitis and several nonarticular features including uveitis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The disease usually affects individuals before 45 years old and presents as chronic, potentially disabling, back pain with a profound effect on quality of life. Therefore, AS is a public health concern considering significant expenses caused by its treatment and social security benefits including mandatory retirement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the number of social security benefits granted due to incapacity for work in Brazil in patients with AS and variants in the period of 2005-2017.

Materials and methods

The official database of National Institute of Social Security of Brazil was the source of data for the research. The financial benefits granted to incapacitated people due to ankylosing spondylitis were analyzed.

Results

The benefits of Social Security Disability (B31), Disability Retirement (B32), Accident-related illness (B91) and Accident Disability Retirement (B92) were analyzed. In all, 17456 pensions were granted between 2005 and 2017, of which 4.656 (26.7%) were for women and 12.800 (73.3%) for men. The age group that received the greatest number of benefits was 40 to 44 years. The distribution of benefits in the other age groups can be seen in table 1. The average value of benefits was R $ 1065.84, while its minimum value was R $ 50.89 and the maximum value was R $ 5531, 31. Regarding the duration of the benefits, the minimum is 1 day, the average of 123 days and the maximum of 5747 days.

TABELA 1: Number of disability benefits by age group

Age group Number of benefits
Até 19 anos 89
20-29 anos 2203
25-29 anos 1507
30-39 anos 4883
40-49 anos 5584
50-59 anos 3961
> 60 anos 736

Conclusions

Ankylosing spondylitis is an incapacitating disease that affects the work activities of its productive age. Knowing the benefits granted to these patients is essential for understanding the social impact of the disease, assessing the needs of this population, informing rheumatologists and directing public politics.