OBJECTIVES: Productivity loss can be defined as time missed from work due to health reasons (absenteeism) as well as the time of impaired performance while at work (presenteeism). This study explored the impact of health problems on presenteeism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to a healthy comparison group. METHODS: Patients recently diagnosed with RA were asked to participate in this cross-sectional survey. The comparison group was formed by subjects without RA matched on age and sex. Presenteeism was assessed by: 1) Quantity and Quality Questionnaire (QQ) reporting the quantity and quality of the work performed on the last working day, and 2) the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire General Health (WPAI-GH) measuring the degree health problems affected work productivity on the last week. Correlation coefficients between instruments were calculated and differences between groups were tested by Mann-Witney U tests. RESULTS: Data were available from 78 patients of which 30 (42%) had a paid job (mean (SD) age 47 (±9); 47% female; mean (SD) number working hours per week 30 (±10)); and 87 healthy controls of which 47 (55%) had a paid job and could be used for analysis. Demographic characteristics as well as total working hours per week were not significantly different between groups. RA patients missed more days from work due to health reasons in the last 3 months compared to the controls (11 (±22) versus 1(±5) days; p<0.005). QQ and WPAI-GH  scores were highly correlated (r=0.64). The influence of health problems on work productivity on the last 7 days differed significantly (p<0.001) between patients (2.3 ±2.5) and controls (0.5 ±1.2). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the impact of RA not only leads to productivity loss due to an increase in time missed from work (absenteeism), but also due to an impaired performance at work (presenteeism).