Effect of tegaserod on work and daily activity in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.
BACKGROUND
Tegaserod is a promotility agent with proven efficacy and safety in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.


OBJECTIVE
To assess tegaserod's effect on work productivity and daily activity.


METHODS
Women, 18-65 years old and meeting Rome II criteria for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, were randomized to a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study of tegaserod 6 mg b.d. or placebo. Productivity loss and daily activity impairment because of irritable bowel syndrome were measured with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire for irritable bowel syndrome, modified to exclude diarrhoea as a symptom. Assessments were made at baseline, weeks 2 and 4.


RESULTS
A total of 2660 women were randomized and, of these, 1675 [tegaserod (n = 1363), placebo (n = 312)] were employed and completed Work Productivity and Activity Impairment for irritable bowel syndrome questionnaires. Compared with placebo, tegaserod significantly reduced work and daily activity impairment at weeks 2 and 4. Tegaserod reduced absenteeism by 2.6% (P = 0.004), presenteeism by 5.4% (P < 0.0001), overall work productivity loss by 6.3% (P < 0.0001), and activity impairment by 5.8% (P < 0.0001) at week 4 (vs. baseline). Assuming a 40-h workweek, tegaserod reduced work productivity loss by 2.5 h/week.


CONCLUSIONS
Tegaserod significantly reduced work productivity loss and daily activity impairment at 2 weeks, and this benefit was maintained at 4 weeks.
Reilly
M C
MC
Margaret Reilly Associates, Inc., New York, NY, USA. mreilly@reillyassociates.net
Barghout
V
V
McBurney
C R
CR
Niecko
T E
TE
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014937:Work
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007211:Indoles; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C105050:tegaserod