Available online 18 April 2023, 101479

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

To estimate the association between pain and labour outcomes for adults with CP in Sweden.

A longitudinal cohort study based on data from Swedish population-based administrative registers of 6,899 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 labour outcomes (employment and earnings from employment), as well as potential pathways through which pain might affect employment and earnings.

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.

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

cerebral palsy

adults

pain

labour outcomes

employment

earnings

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.