Work Absenteeism, Disability Higher in Patients With PsA and Psoriasis

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis have higher work absence costs, sick leaves, and more frequent short-term disability compared with the control group, according to a recent study published in Clinical Rheumatology.

Researchers aimed to compared work absenteeism and short-term disability among adults with psoriasis or PsA by screening adults eligible for work absenteeism and/or short-term disability benefits. Controls were matched to the patients with psoriasis and PsA. Costs associated with each type of work absence were evaluated.

Nonrecreational work absence costs were an average of $1681 and $1657 for the PsA and psoriasis group, respectively, compared with $1217 for the control group. A higher percentage of patients with PsA compared with patients with psoriasis and the control group had sick leaves after 1 year (56.2% vs 55.6% and 41.5%; P<.0001), more frequent short-term disability (8.8% vs 5.6% and 4.7%; P<.0001), and higher corresponding costs ($605 vs $406 and $335 on average; P<.0001).

“Annual work absenteeism and short-term disability were consistently greater among patients with PsA and psoriasis than controls, highlighting the substantial economic burden of psoriatic disease,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Orbai AM, Reddy SM, Dennis N, et al. Work absenteeism and disability associated with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in the USA-a retrospective study of claims data from 2009 to 2020. Clin Rheumatol. Published online July 21, 2021. doi:10.1007/s10067-021-05839-9