Financial burden of productivity loss in severe asthma and impact of biologic therapy

Abstract

Background: Severe asthma leads to considerable productivity loss; however, patients' financial impact and the potential reversal through biologic therapy remain unexplored.

Research question: What is the financial burden of productivity loss among employed individuals with severe asthma, and does it change during biologic therapy?

Study design and methods: Employed individuals from the Danish Severe Asthma Register (2016-2022) were included. Salary data were sourced from national registries, while productivity loss was measured using the Workplace Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire at baseline and after a minimum of four months of biologic therapy.

Results: A total of 132 employed individuals (mean age 47.9 years, 39% female, mean annual salary € 74,646) were included. Before biologic therapy, productivity impairment was 39.1%. presenteeism and absenteeism rates were 35.8% and 11.3%, respectively, equating to annual productivity losses of € 28,880 per individual.On treatment, overall impairment was 17.6%, with significant reductions in both presenteeism and absenteeism, corresponding to annual loss reductions of € 16,506 per individual.

Interpretation: The financial burden of productivity loss in severe asthma is substantial, primarily due to presenteeism. Biologic therapy significantly enhances productivity, suggesting that much of the individual financial burden can be reversed.

Keywords: Health economics; absenteeism; cohort study; presenteeism; unemployment.