OBJECTIVES : Use objective data to compare the prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the all-cause utilization of short-/long-term disability(STD,LTD,respectively) and workers'-compensation(WC) and explore changes over time.

METHODS : Retrospective analysis using the WorkPartners Research Reference Database (RRDb) from 2001—2019. For each year, employees with medical-claims for RA were identified. For each-benefit, the analysis focused on the prevalence-of-claims and the percent-of-eligible-employees filing leaves under each benefit, the leave-length(in-days) and the median payments as %-of-salary (MedianPay). Disability/WC-payments included lump-sum distributions and potentially extended beyond the year-initially-incurred. Workplace-accidents were paid under the WC-benefit and WC-claims without absence from work(medical only) were excluded. Because sick-leave(SL) may be taken for any reason, leaves and payments under the SL-benefit were excluded. All-claims filed for the employees with RA were included based on the year initiated. For each benefit and year, average leave-length and MedianPay were calculated and compared with baseline(2001).

RESULTS : The prevalence of RA averaged 0.5% during the study period. At baseline 15.5% filed STD-claims,0.7% filed LTD-claims, and 1.7% filed WC-claims. Mean STD-claims were 48.5days and paid 64% of-salary (median); LTD-claims were 367.5days and paid 21% of-salary; and WC-claims were 43.8days and paid 2015% of salary. From 2002—2019: for STD, 11.7%–16.9% of eligibles filed-claims lasting 67.0%—113.3% of baseline-days(BDs) and 79.0%—125.6% of MedianPay; for LTD 0.6%—2.9% filed-claims lasting 37.9%—467.4% of BDs and 63.2%—253.3% of MedianPay; For WC 0.3%—1.6% filed-claims lasting 82.1%—995.9% of BDs and 70.4%—271.5% of MedianPay. MedianPay was highest in 2010 for STD, 2019 for LTD, and 2003 for WC. Claims lengths were longest in 2017 for STD, 2005 for LTD and 2008 for WC.

CONCLUSIONS : Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis is a growing concern for employers. Their employees with RA used a different mix of absence benefits over time with varying durations and payments. Using a constant cost over time for all benefits is not accurate or appropriate.