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Type of hematological malignancy is crucial for the return to work prognosis: a register-based cohort study

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Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this study were to determine the proportion of return to work (RTW) among sick-listed patients diagnosed with one of eight subtypes of hematological malignancies; to evaluate the influence of type of hematological malignancy, comorbidity, use of anxiolytics and antidepressants, socioeconomic and demographic factors on RTW; and to investigate if these associations differ between genders.

Methods

We combined data from national registers on all Danish patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies between 2000 and 2007. A total of 1,741 patients on long-term sick leave were followed until RTW, emigration, permanent withdrawal from the labor market, death, or February 2012, whichever came first.

Results

A total of 1,140 (65 %) patients returned to work. A strong association was found between type of diagnosis and RTW (p < 0.001), and the proportion of RTW was lowest for patients with multiple myeloma or acute leukemia compared to patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, chronic myeloid leukemia, and chronic lymphoid leukemia. Use of antidepressants or anxiolytics after diagnosis, gender, age, and educational level were also associated with RTW. Surprisingly, comorbidity was not associated with RTW (p = 0.94); gender only modified the association between age and RTW.

Conclusion

Two thirds of patients with hematological malignancies on sick leave RTW. A number of factors seem to lead to a poor prognosis, the hematological diagnosis being the most important, and these should be taken into account when performing studies on work outcome for patients with hematological malignancies.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Knowledge in this area should assist in identification of hematological cancer patients at risk of not returning to work so that early targeted rehabilitation interventions can be initiated.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Peter Hokland for helpful suggestions and former Head Nurse Anette Schouv Kjeldsen as well as Head Nurse Marie Møller for support and encouragement.

This work has been supported by grants from The Danish Cancer Society (grant number R56-A3231), Aarhus University Hospital, The Health Insurance Foundation (grant number 2012B026), Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Max and Inger Wørzners Memorial Foundation, and the Andersen-Isted Foundation.

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Correspondence to Trine Allerslev Horsboel.

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Horsboel, T.A., Nielsen, C.V., Nielsen, B. et al. Type of hematological malignancy is crucial for the return to work prognosis: a register-based cohort study. J Cancer Surviv 7, 614–623 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-013-0300-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-013-0300-z

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