Workplace impacts of anti-TNF therapies in rheumatoid arthritis: review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes pain and serious functional impacts and substantially affects patients' daily lives, including their ability to work.


OBJECTIVE
This review examines recent studies of patients with RA treated with TNF antagonists and the impacts these therapies have on the workplace.


METHODS
A total of 133 articles and 14 poster abstracts were reviewed that matched specific criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of early studies of TNF antagonists varied regarding their effects on patients with RA in the workplace. However, recent studies of adalimumab showed positive impacts across a range of workplace burdens. Treatments such as adalimumab may help employees with RA to remain in the workforce and lead to reduced workplace costs to the employers and employees.
Birnbaum
Howard
H
Analysis Group, 111 Huntington Avenue, 10th Floor, MA 02199, Boston, USA.
Shi
Lizheng
L
Pike
Crystal
C
Kaufman
Rebecca
R
Sun
Peter
P
Cifaldi
Mary
M
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha