J Korean Med Sci.  2012 Aug;27(8):929-933. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.8.929.

Relationship between Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Working Life: A Korean Study

• Kang JE
• Kim YC
• Lee SC
• Kim JH

• KMID: 1714206
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.8.929

Abstract

Complex regional pain syndrome affects the quality of life of the patient. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of this syndrome and evaluate its effect on the patient's working life. We demonstrated that the disease has a male preponderance and is 3 times more likely to affect the lower extremities. In this study, 11 participants (20%) retained their employment, whereas 44 (80%) became unemployed. Mean age and pain score were lower in the employment group than in the unemployment group (29.1 +/- 16.8 yr vs 40.1 +/- 12.6 yr, P = 0.021, and 4.5 +/- 2.9 vs 7.0 +/- 2.0, P = 0.002, respectively). Subjects diagnosed within 8 months (P = 0.044), those who had achieved higher levels of education (P = 0.028), and those working in white-collar jobs (P = 0.011) had higher employment-retention rates. Therefore, patients must manage their jobs (lower physical demand and decrease the number of working hours) if they are to improve their occupational life. To achieve satisfactory outcomes and a high employment-retention rate, clinicians must be aware of the importance of an early diagnosis (within 8 months), appropriate treatment, and a reduction in the patient's pain score.

Keyword

Complex Regional Pain Syndromes; Work; Employment

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Complex Regional Pain Syndromes/*diagnosis/epidemiology
Demography
Employment
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
*Quality of Life
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Severity of Illness Index
Work
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Results of logistic regression analysis. Pain site was categorized by the side that was affected, either the left or right. The level of education of the patient was defined as follows: "equal to or less than high-school graduate" or "higher than high-school graduate." Occupation was divided into 2 types: white-collar jobs and blue-collar jobs.

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