Impact of endometriosis-related symptoms on work life and work performance: a study of employed Danish endometriosis patients.

PMID: 23537616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.03.008

Commentary

This study will investigate the impact of endometriosis on women's work. Through a cohort study, 610 patients diagnosed with endometriosis and 751 control participants completed an electronic survey based on 30 endometriosis health profile questionnaires and a work capacity index (short form).

As a result, a binary analysis found that a diagnosis of endometriosis affected many things about a woman's work, including more absenteeism, disruption of work due to symptoms, and reduced ability to work. It also showed that higher pain levels and symptom severity were associated with lower work performance.

A full regression analysis showed that fatigue, frequent pain, higher daily pain levels, more sick days, and feeling depressed at work were associated with lower work ability. And delaying the time from onset to diagnosis confirmation was associated with lower work capacity.

In conclusion, these data show that women with endometriosis are severely affected by worsening work conditions and reduced work capacity, and the results provide evidence that this disease represents a significant socioeconomic burden.