BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To quantify the indirect burden of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), we assessed work-related productivity loss in patients with CVS and caregivers using large-sized databases in the United States.

METHODS

Patients aged 18-64 years with full-time employment in MarketScan Commercial and Health and Productivity Management Databases were selected if they had ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient claims for CVS between 2008 and 2018 and continuous enrollment of ≥6 months before and ≥3 months after the initial CVS diagnosis. CVS caregivers were adults with full-time employment and also having dependent(s) with CVS. Propensity scores via multivariable regressions were used to match patients with CVS and their caregivers to non-CVS controls. Productivity loss was assessed by short-term disability (STD) and absenteeism (ABS) days, and the associated costs were also calculated. Differences between the matched cohorts were regarded as the burden attributable to CVS.

RESULTS

Patients with CVS had longer annualized STD (21.1 vs 7.0, < .001) and ABS days (26.4 vs 22.8, < .05) than their matched controls. CVS caregivers had more annualized STD (3.9 vs 2.6,  < .001) and ABS days (20.9 vs 19.5, < .05) than controls. Productivity loss costs for STD or ABS days were greater for patients with CVS and caregivers. Annualized health-care resource utilization (inpatient, emergency room, outpatient) was 5.2-6.0 times higher in patients with CVS ( < .001).

CONCLUSION

CVS is associated with higher productivity loss due to STD/ABS and, therefore, greater indirect costs for patients and caregivers. Further research is needed to assess the full societal burden of CVS. More effective interventions may reduce the disease burden.