Pain and labor outcomes: A longitudinal study of adults with cerebral palsy in Sweden

Derek Asuman; Ulf-G Gerdtham; Ann I Alriksson-Schmidt; Elisabet Rodby-Bousquet; Guro L Andersen; Johan Jarl

doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101479

Pain and labor outcomes: A longitudinal study of adults with cerebral palsy in Sweden

Disabil Health J. 2023 Jul;16(3):101479. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101479. Epub 2023 Apr 18.

Authors

Derek Asuman¹, Ulf-G Gerdtham², Ann I Alriksson-Schmidt³, Elisabet Rodby-Bousquet⁴, Guro L Andersen⁵, Johan Jarl⁶

Affiliations

¹ Health Economics, Department of Clinical Sciences (Malmö), Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: derek.asuman@med.lu.se.
² Health Economics, Department of Clinical Sciences (Malmö), Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Economics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Centre for Economic Demography, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
³ Orthopaedics, Department of Clinical Sciences (Lund), Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
⁴ Orthopaedics, Department of Clinical Sciences (Lund), Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University-Region Västmanland, Västeräs, Sweden.
⁵ Norwegian Quality and Surveillance Registry for Cerebral Palsy (NorCP), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
⁶ Health Economics, Department of Clinical Sciences (Malmö), Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

PMID: 37149449
DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101479

Abstract

Background: Pain is a global health concern with substantial societal costs and limits the activity participation of individuals. The prevalence of pain is estimated to be high among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP).

Objectives: To estimate the association between pain and labor outcomes for adults with CP in Sweden.

Methods: A longitudinal cohort study based on data from Swedish population-based administrative registers of 6899 individuals (53,657 person-years) with CP aged 20-64 years. Individual fixed effects regression models were used to analyze the association between pain and labor outcomes (employment and earnings from employment), as well as potential pathways through which pain might affect employment and earnings.

Results: Pain was associated with adverse outcomes varying across severity, corresponding to a reduction of 7-12% in employment and 2-8% in earnings if employed. Pain might affect employment and earnings through increased likelihood of both sickness leave and early retirement.

Conclusion: Pain management could potentially be important to improve labor outcomes for adults with CP, in addition to improving the quality of life.

Keywords: Adults; Cerebral palsy; Earnings; Employment; Labor outcomes; Pain.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cerebral Palsy* / complications
Disabled Persons*
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Pain / etiology
Quality of Life
Sweden