Cognitive functioning as a predictor of employment status in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a 2-year longitudinal study

Neurol Sci. 2019 Dec;40(12):2555-2564. doi: 10.1007/s10072-019-03999-w. Epub 2019 Jul 19.

Abstract

Background: Cognitive functioning has been linked to employment outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) in cross-sectional studies. Longitudinal studies are however lacking and previous studies did not extensively examine executive functioning.

Objectives: We examined whether baseline cognitive functioning predicts a change in employment status after 2 years, while taking into account mood, fatigue and disability level.

Methods: A total of 124 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (pwMS) and 60 healthy controls were included. They underwent neurological and neuropsychological examinations and completed online questionnaires. PwMS were divided into a stable and deteriorated employment status group (SES and DES), based on employment status 2 years after baseline. We first examined baseline differences between the SES and DES groups in cognitive functioning, mood, fatigue and disability level. A logistic regression analysis was performed, with change in employment status (SES/DES) as dependent variable.

Results: The DES group included 22% pwMS. Group differences were found in complex attention, executive functioning, self-reported cognitive functioning, fatigue and physical disability. More physical disability (OR = 1.90, p = 0.01) and lower executive functioning (OR = 0.30, p = 0.03) were retained as independent predictors of DES (R2 = 0.22, p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions: Baseline physical disability and executive functioning, but none of the other variables, moderately predicted a deterioration in employment status 2 years later.

Trial registration: This observational study is registered under NL43098.008.12: 'Voorspellers van arbeidsparticipatie bij mensen met relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerose'. This study is registered at the Dutch CCMO register (https://www.toetsingonline.nl).

Keywords: Cognition; Employment; Executive function; Multiple sclerosis; Physically disabled; Work.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / physiopathology*
  • Employment*
  • Executive Function / physiology*
  • Fatigue / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / physiopathology*
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Young Adult