Authors: Terhi Kangas, Aurélie Plessier, Clémence Ramier, Laure Elkrief, Virginia Hernandez-Gea, Pierre-Emmanuel Rautou, Katrien Vanthomme, Hadewijch Vandenheede, Agnes Dumas
Journal: Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology • 2026
Overview
This multicentre European study examined employment outcomes among 432 working-age people living with rare vascular liver diseases in France and Spain, comparing them with those of the general population and identifying factors associated with these outcomes.
Key findings
People living with rare vascular liver diseases were less likely to be employed than the general population and were more likely to be unable to work because of illness or disability (13.0% vs. 3.0%). Among those who were employed, nearly half (48.5%) had missed work because of health problems during the previous year, compared with 30.8% in the general population. A history of gastrointestinal bleeding, previous interventional procedures, older age, and lower educational level were associated with being unable to work because of illness or disability. Among employed participants, moderate or severe pain and unmet needs for special illness-related leave were associated with higher health-related absenteeism.
These findings suggest that work limitations are influenced by medical, social, and structural factors and highlight the need for greater workplace flexibility, supportive employment policies, and social care support.