Background: Chronic spontaneous/idiopathic urticaria (CSU/CIU) is defined as the spontaneous appearance of itchy hives, angioedema, or both that recur for >6 weeks. CSU/CIU has a significant impact on patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and productivity at work. However, there is little information about the clinical aspects of refractory CSU/CIU and its associated impact and indirect costs.
Objectives: ASSURE-CSU (ASsessment of the Economic and Humanistic Burden of Chronic Spontaneous/Idiopathic URticaria PatiEnts) aims to identify and quantify the humanistic and economic burden of illness in patients with CSU/CIU refractory to H1-antihistamines. This non-interventional study evaluates the HRQOL, healthcare resource utilization, absence from work and productivity loss in CSU/CIU patients with inadequate response to H1-antihistamines. Here we present the projected indirect cost of loss of work productivity of patients with CSU/CIU refractory to H1-antihistamines, who are enrolled in the ASSURE-CSU study in the UK.
Methods: Patients with CSU/CIU refractory to H1-antihistamines, aged =18 years, with disease persisting for =12 months were assessed. Data were collected on absenteeism, productivity loss and projected economic impact via the work productivity and impairment- specific health problem (WPAI-SHP) questionnaire.
Results: Overall, 74 patients were assessed. In total, 51.4% of the patient cohort was employed, with 37.8% in full-time employment. In the previous 7 days before assessment, 97.4% of employed patients reported absenteeism with a mean proportion of time (SD) missed at work due to CSU/CIU of 9.9% (23.2%). The greatest % of time missed due to CSU/CIU was reported in patients with moderate (UAS7 scores of 16–27) and severe (UAS7 scores of 28–42) disease (14.7% and 14.5%, respectively). Of the employed patients, 94.7% reported an overall work productivity loss due to CSU/CIU, with a reported mean (SD) impairment of 35% (31%). Total indirect monthly cost of work productivity loss was estimated to be a mean (SD) of £733 (642) per patient in full-time employment (based on a 160 hr working week at an average wage of 12.97 GBP per hour).
Conclusions: This UK-specific analysis from ASSURE-CSU suggests that almost all patients in employment are affected at work by their disease, either through absenteeism or reduced productivity at work. Almost all of these patients reported that their CSU/CIU caused them to miss approximately 10% of work due to absenteeism. Furthermore, the mean economic impact of work productivity loss is estimated to be £733 per month.
