Journal Article

Workplace difficulties in early-stage relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with low physical disability

Orviz, Aida, Caruncho, Jacobo, Pérez-Sempere, Ángel, López-Muñoz, Pablo, García-Arcelay, Elena, Borrega, Laura, González-Suárez, Inés, Morales, Raquel Piñar, Álvarez-Rodríguez, Elena, Sánchez-Menoyo, José L, Carmona, Olga, Calles, Carmen, Martín-Martínez, Jesús, Gómez-Gutiérrez, Montserrat, Joly, Héloise, Hernández, Miguel A, Candeliere-Merlicco, Antonio, Casanova, Ignacio, Pacheco, Eva M, Caminero, Ana B, Maurino, Jorge

2026

Overview

This study evaluated perceived workplace difficulties in 128 individuals with early-stage relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and low physical disability. Significant workplace challenges were reported by 40.6% of participants. External barriers, including workplace inflexibility and professional-domestic life imbalance (median 23-item multiple sclerosis (MS) Work Difficulties Questionnaire-MSWDQ-23 score: 31.3, interquartile range 6.3–56.3), represented the highest burden. Women reported higher difficulty scores than men (mean MSWDQ-23 total scores: 29.9 vs. 21.2, p = 0.010). Multivariable analysis identified fatigue (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.17–1.61) and anxiety (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05–1.38) as the only independent predictors of significant workplace difficulty (p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate a significant dissociation between physical disability and functional outcomes. Vocational vulnerability is driven by non-motor symptoms rather than overt neurological impairment. Proactive clinical screening for these factors is essential to mitigate work instability and preserve long-term professional trajectories.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Sage Publications Ltd,SAGE Publishing
• Subject: Anxiety / Brief Report / Employment / Hospitals / Multiple sclerosis / Neurology / Quality of life / Questionnaires / Workloads