Occupational environment as risk factor for unemployment in multiple sclerosis

Introduction. - Few studies have examined the factors of occupational environment related to unemployment in multiple sclerosis (MS). Material and methods. - A case control-study was carried out. Cases were patients unemployed for less than five years before the study (n = 77) ; controls were patients currently employed (n = 94). The odds ratios of the relationship under study adjusted for sex, age, disease form and educational level, were estimated. Results. - Employment in the public sector, sedentary jobs and possibility of obtaining specific improvements in the work environment were found to be protective factors, while jobs needing force, rigid work schedule, manual precision, frequent moves and a daily work duration over 8 h were found as risk factors. Multivariate analyses showed that the only remaining factors were public sector jobs as protective factor (OR = 0.4), and strenuous work as risk factor (OR = 4.5). Factors were slightly different in male and female patients. Conclusion. - This study suggests that simple and early changes in the occupational environment could maintain MS patients at work.