WS03.5 Employment and work disability in adults with cystic fibrosis: A cohort study

Abstract

Background As a result of prolonged survival, more patients with CF participate in the labour force. The available data on employment in CF have been based on cross-sectional studies. To our knowledge, no cohort study, evaluating the evolution of employment status in CF patients has been conducted so far. In 2009, we assessed occupational levels and risk factors for work disability in 207 patients cared for at our CF centre in Paris. Five years later, we reassessed employment status in the same cohort, with a special focus on lung transplantation recipients. Methods We first reviewed the status of the patients from the 2009 cohort (alive, deceased, lost to follow-up). A self-administered questionnaire, identical to the one used in 2009 on work status and treatment, was submitted to the patients still in the cohort. A section relating to lung transplantation was added when appropriate. In parallel, medical records were reviewed for illness severity indicators. Results Of the 207 initial patients, 16 had died, 7 were lost to follow-up and 184 were still alive (35 of which had received a lung transplantation). To date, data have been collected for 166 patients (80%). In comparison to 2009, 97 (58%) vs 117 (57%) were employed, 14 (8%) vs 13 (6%) were unemployed, 45 (27%) vs 38 (18%) were inactive and 9 (5%) vs 39 (19%) were students. Conclusion The proportion of employed patients was unchanged after 5 years but fewer patients were students. Data collection will be completed for the patients in the cohort who have moved and are no longer followed in our CF center. We plan to analyze employment promoting factors and the impact of lung transplantation on occupational life.