Table 3.

Career-related aspects, psychological health, and perception of disease.

Variable, n	Mean ± SD/n (%)
Employment status of labor force, n = 90
Employed	87 (96.7%)
Unemployed	3 (3.3%)
Left/lost job because of axSpA, n = 3	2 (66.7%)
Employment status of the economically inactive, n = 22
Retired	6 (27.3%)
Temporary sick leave	6 (27.3%)
Permanent sick leave	3 (13.6%)
Homemaker	3 (13.6%)
Early retirement	2 (9.1%)
Student	1 (4.5%)
Other	1 (4.5%)
Work-related issues due to axSpA, n = 112	99 (88.4%)
Missed work for doctor’s appointment, n = 96	47 (49.0%)
Took sick leave because of axSpA, n = 96	34 (35.4%)
Difficulties finding a job due to axSpA, n = 103	51 (49.5%)
AxSpA influenced job choice, n = 106	59 (55.7%)
Psychological comorbidities, n = 112
Anxiety	29 (25.9%)
Sleep disorder	26 (23.2%)
Depression	23 (20.5%)
GHQ-12 † score (0–12), n = 112	3.3 ± 3.4
GHQ-12 ≥ 3	50 (44.6%)
GHQ-12 < 3	62 (55.4%)
Most common fears, n = 111
Suffering pain	78 (70.3%)
Suffering stiffness	75 (67.6%)
Disease progression	64 (57.7%)
Suffering fatigue	63 (56.8%)
Most common hopes, n = 112
Eliminate pain	78 (69.6%)
Eliminate stiffness	74 (66.1%)
Reduce flares	68 (60.7%)
Reduce fatigue	67 (59.8%)
Most common treatment goals, n = 112
To eliminate/reduce pain	79 (70.5%)
To eliminate/reduce stiffness	75 (67.0%)
To reduce flares	66 (58.9%)
Halt disease progression	61 (54.5%)
Talked with treating physician about treatment goals, n = 108	40 (37.0%)

^† GHQ-12: 12 Item General Health Questionnaire.