Cost of Illness, Quality of Life, and Work Outcomes in Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Treated With Adalimumab in China.

To access the cost of illness, quality of life and work limitation in active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients using adalimumab in China. A prospective study was performed in 91 patients with active AS in China. Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) fulfilled the 1984 New York modified criteria of AS with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ≥ 4 were enrolled. All participants received adalimumab (40 mg per 2 weeks) therapy and completed questionnaires about disease characteristics, quality of life and cost. Only patients with pay-work completed the Work Limitation Questionnaire and Work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire in AS. Factors associated with work outcomes were evaluated. A total of 91 patients with mean age of 30 years old (87.8% males) and mean disease duration of 10 years received adalimumab treatment for 24 weeks. The annual estimated cost of each patient was $37581.41 while the direct cost accounted for 84.6%. Seventy-eight percent of patients have a paid job with average work productivity loss of 0.28 measured by work limitation questionnaire, absenteeism and presenteeism were 10.22 and 43.86%, respectively, with a mean work productivity loss of 47.92% measured by Work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire in AS. Patients experienced significantly greater improvements after adalimumab treatment in presenteeism, absenteeism, work productivity, and quality of life. The cost of AS patients with adalimumab therapy was high in China. Disease activity, physical function, quality of life, and work outcomes improved significantly after therapy.