Anti-interleukin-5/anti-interleukin-5 Receptor α Treatment Improves Self-reported Work Productivity in Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: a Prospective Cohort Trial

Overview

Journal ERJ Open Res

Specialty Pulmonary Medicine

Date 2024 Nov 26

PMID 39588077

Authors

Lina Brinkmann

Jan Fuge

Tobias Welte

Hendrik Suhling

Nora Drick

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Severe asthma affects the working life of millions of people worldwide. Interleukin (IL)-5/anti-interleukin-5 receptor α (IL-5Rα) antibodies are highly effective in reducing symptoms in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. We analysed effects of anti-IL-5/anti-IL-5Rα treatment on self-reported productivity and absenteeism at work in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Methods: In this prospective single-centre study, patients with severe eosinophilic asthma received a questionnaire assessing their actual occupational status and the influence asthma has on their work life, productivity and missed days at work prior to initiation of antibody treatment and after 6 and 12 months of therapy. Among others, the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Specific Health Problem (WPAI:SHP) was used.

Results: Out of 54 patients with a median age of 60 years, 27 (50%) were employed. In addition to an increase in asthma control and lung function, self-reported productivity increased significantly with a decrease on the WPAI:SHP from 30% (interquartile range (IQR) 20-50%) to 10% (IQR 0-27.5%) under treatment (p=0.001). Furthermore, self-reported missed days at work were reduced from 2 days·month (IQR 1.75-6 days·month) to 0 days·month (IQR 0-2 days·month; p=0.067). At baseline 22 employed patients (81%) stated they were affected at work by their asthma. After 12 months of treatment, this number decreased to eight patients (30%; p=0.038).

Conclusions: This prospective analysis could prove the substantial impact severe asthma has on patients' working life. Anti-IL-5/anti-IL-5Rα treatment in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma leads to a significant increase in self-reported productivity at work, and after 12 months of treatment patients state substantially fewer negative effects on their working situation.

References

Moore W, Meyers D, Wenzel S, Teague W, Li H, Li X . Identification of asthma phenotypes using cluster analysis in the Severe Asthma Research Program. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009; 181(4):315-23. PMC: 2822971. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200906-0896OC. View

Hyland M, Whalley B, Jones R, Masoli M . A qualitative study of the impact of severe asthma and its treatment showing that treatment burden is neglected in existing asthma assessment scales. Qual Life Res. 2014; 24(3):631-9. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-014-0801-x. View

Pavord I, Korn S, Howarth P, Bleecker E, Buhl R, Keene O . Mepolizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma (DREAM): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2012; 380(9842):651-9. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60988-X. View

Milger K, Skowasch D, Hamelmann E, Mummler C, Idzko M, Gappa M . Bronchodilator Reversibility in the GAN Severe Asthma Cohort. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2022; 33(6):446-456. DOI: 10.18176/jiaci.0850. View

Kroes J, Zielhuis S, van Roon E, Ten Brinke A . Prediction of response to biological treatment with monoclonal antibodies in severe asthma. Biochem Pharmacol. 2020; 179:113978. DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.113978. View

Keat A, Gaffney K, Gilbert A, Harris C, Leeder J . Influence of biologic therapy on return to work in people with work disability due to ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008; 47(4):481-3. DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken010. View

Wu A, Paltiel A, M Kuntz K, Weiss S, Fuhlbrigge A . Cost-effectiveness of omalizumab in adults with severe asthma: results from the Asthma Policy Model. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; 120(5):1146-52. PMC: 3476046. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.07.055. View

Nair P, Wenzel S, Rabe K, Bourdin A, Lugogo N, Kuna P . Oral Glucocorticoid-Sparing Effect of Benralizumab in Severe Asthma. N Engl J Med. 2017; 376(25):2448-2458. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1703501. View

Serra-Batlles J, Plaza V, Morejon E, Comella A, Brugues J . Costs of asthma according to the degree of severity. Eur Respir J. 1999; 12(6):1322-6. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.98.12061322. View

10.

Jansson S, Backman H, Andersson M, Telg G, Lindberg A, Stridsman C . Severe asthma is related to high societal costs and decreased health related quality of life. Respir Med. 2020; 162:105860. DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.105860. View

11.

Andersson M, Janson C, Kristensen T, Szende A, Golam S . Cost effectiveness of benralizumab for severe, uncontrolled oral corticosteroid-dependent asthma in Sweden. J Med Econ. 2020; 23(8):877-884. DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2020.1760285. View

12.

Whittington M, McQueen R, Ollendorf D, Tice J, Chapman R, Pearson S . Assessing the value of mepolizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016; 118(2):220-225. DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2016.10.028. View

13.

van der Valk J, Hekking P, Rauh S, Patberg K, van Veen I, van Huisstede A . Anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics improve work productivity and activity in severe asthma: a RAPSODI registry-based cohort study. J Asthma. 2023; 60(10):1869-1876. DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2023.2196563. View

14.

Padilla-Galo A, Garcia-Ruiz A, Levy Abitbol R, Olveira C, Rivas-Ruiz F, Garcia-Agua Soler N . Real-life cost-effectiveness of benralizumab in patients with severe asthma. Respir Res. 2021; 22(1):163. PMC: 8155800. DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01758-0. View

15.

Wu J, Lin C, Sun L, Goldblum O, Zbrozek A, Burge R . Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) questionnaire in psoriasis patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018; 33(2):318-324. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.15098. View

16.

Rodriguez-Martinez C, Sossa-Briceno M, Castro-Rodriguez J . Cost Effectiveness of Pharmacological Treatments for Asthma: A Systematic Review. Pharmacoeconomics. 2018; 36(10):1165-1200. DOI: 10.1007/s40273-018-0668-8. View

17.

McDonald V, Hiles S, Godbout K, Harvey E, Marks G, Hew M . Treatable traits can be identified in a severe asthma registry and predict future exacerbations. Respirology. 2018; 24(1):37-47. DOI: 10.1111/resp.13389. View

18.

Lommatzsch M, Brusselle G, Canonica G, Jackson D, Nair P, Buhl R . Disease-modifying anti-asthmatic drugs. Lancet. 2022; 399(10335):1664-1668. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00331-2. View

19.

Wenzel S, Ford L, Pearlman D, Spector S, Sher L, Skobieranda F . Dupilumab in persistent asthma with elevated eosinophil levels. N Engl J Med. 2013; 368(26):2455-66. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1304048. View

20.

Bourdin A, Halimi L, Vachier I, Paganin F, Lamouroux A, Gouitaa M . Adherence in severe asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2012; 42(11):1566-74. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.04018.x. View