Work limitations and productivity loss are associated with health-related quality of life but not with clinical severity in patients with psoriasis

Abstract

Background: According to current guidelines the cost of productivity loss should be considered in pharmacoeconomic analyses. The cost of health-related productivity loss in psoriasis patients is unknown.

Objective: To estimate the cost of productivity loss in psoriasis and its association with health-related quality of life and clinical disease severity.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, recruitment of adult participants through Internet advertisements. 201 (72.3%) out of 278 eligible participants completed the study. Health-related work productivity loss, quality of life and clinical severity of psoriasis were assessed by standardized instruments.

Results: Indirect costs of productivity loss clearly exceed the total direct cost. In contrast to objective clinical disease severity, health-related quality of life (measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index) is an independent predictor of work productivity.

Conclusions: There is good reason to believe that intervention can reduce health-related productivity loss by improving patients' quality of life. Savings from increased work productivity might offset comparatively high acquisition costs of biological agents.