Ustekinumab decreases work limitations, improves work productivity, and reduces work days missed in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: results from PHOENIX 2.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of ustekinumab on productivity and work limitations among 1230 psoriasis patients treated with ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg or placebo during the Phase III PHOENIX 2 trial.

METHODS

The self-administered Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) was used to determine the on-the-job limitations at baseline and weeks 12 and 24. Productivity was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the number of work days missed due to psoriasis was recorded.

RESULTS

At baseline, work limitations and productivity were similar across treatment groups. At week 12, improvement in productivity VAS scores was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the 45 mg (72.6%) and 90 mg (71.4%) ustekinumab groups versus placebo (no change), and the proportion of patients who missed work days was significantly lower (2.0% for each ustekinumab group vs 8.3% for placebo; p < 0.001). Mean improvements from baseline to week 12 were greater with ustekinumab than with placebo for WLQ domains, including time management (6.6/9.1 vs -0.7), mental-interpersonal (7.8/7.5 vs -1.1), and output demands (6.8/7.0 vs -1.1) (p < 0.001 for ustekinumab 45 mg/90 mg vs placebo). Improvements were maintained through week 24.

CONCLUSIONS

Ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg significantly increased productivity, reduced work days missed, and improved work limitations compared with placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.