Article Text
Abstract
Objectives To assess the effect of anti-TNF therapy on work productivity using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SHP) questionnaire in patients with RA, PSA and AS in the real life setting. In the Czech Republic, anti-TNF-therapy is reimbursed for RA if DAS28>5.1 despite therapy with csDMARDs, for PSA if disease is not “adequately controlled” with csDMARDs, and for AS if BASDAI>4 and CRP/ESR elevated above normal.
Methods WPAI-SHP scores were collected for all patients enrolled in ATTRA since 2012 at baseline and after 12 months of anti-TNF exposure. Bionäive patients with RA (n=352), AS (n=442) and PSA (n=133) starting anti-TNF therapy with available baseline data on demography, disease duration and physical function, and WPAI-SHP at baseline and at 12 months were included in this analysis. Patients older than 60 years, on maternity leave or students were excluded. Only patients working for pay at baseline were assessed for WPAI-SHP summary scores: absenteeism (mean % work time missed), presenteeism (mean % productivity loss at work), overall work impairment (mean % overall work productivity loss), and activity impairment (mean % productivity loss in regular activities).
Results Baseline characteristic were significantly different between diagnoses (Table 1). Working status changed significantly only in patients with RA (employed 69→64%, p=0.013), but not in AS (77→78%) or PSA (77→73%). In patients employed for pay both at baseline and after 12 months, all WPAI-SHP scores improved significantly over one year of anti-TNF therapy (Table 2).
Conclusions In the real life setting of the Czech Republic, anti-TNF therapy effectively reduced absenteeism, presenteeism, activity impairment and work impairment over one year in employed patients with RA, AS and PSA.
Disclosure of Interest None declared