Work productivity loss is determined by fatigue and reduced quality of life in employed inflammatory bowel disease patients: a prospective multicentre cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients experience problems at work resulting in work productivity loss driving indirect healthcare costs. We aimed to find determinants for work productivity loss in employed IBD patients while correcting for disease severity according to prior and active maintenance treatment.

METHODS

In this longitudinal multicentre cohort study, 510 employed IBD patients completed online questionnaires during 18 months follow-up. Work productivity, fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (score 20-100) and Short-Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (score 10-70). Linear mixed model analyses including random, repeated and fixed effects were performed.

RESULTS

Fatigue (β 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12-0.32) and reduced HRQL (β -1.15; 95% CI, -1.35 to -0.95) were the strongest determinants for work productivity loss in employed IBD patients. Clinical disease activity (β 9.50, 95% CI 6.48-12.51) and corticosteroid use (β 10.09, 95% CI 5.25-15.84) were associated with work productivity loss in the total IBD group and ulcerative colitis subgroup, but not in Crohn's disease patients. History of IBD-related surgery (β 9.41; 95% CI, 2.62-16.20) and vedolizumab use (β 12.74; 95% CI, 3.63-21.86) were significantly associated with work productivity loss in the ulcerative colitis subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatigue and reduced HRQL were the strongest determinants for work productivity loss in employed IBD patients while correcting for disease severity and activity. These results underline the importance of monitoring fatigue and HRQL in routine care to reduce work productivity loss and indirect costs.