Work participation and the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study in people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and population controls.

Objective: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (iRDs) might have been more vulnerable for adverse work outcomes (AWOs) and restrictions in work ability and work performance. Our objectives were to compare AWOs during the pandemic and current work ability between iRD patients and controls, understand which patients are most vulnerable for these outcomes and (3) explore the role of work characteristics on work performance while working remotely.

Methods: Patients and population controls in a Dutch COVID-19 cohort study provided information in March 2022 on work participation in March 2020 (pre-pandemic, retrospective) and March 2022 (current).