Employer model of workplace impacts of anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) greatly affects patients' abilities to perform work, which can translate into substantial employer costs. We developed a customizable model that allows employers to calculate workplace impacts of RA therapies in employees with RA.


METHODS
Costs of medical leave (absenteeism)/disability, reduced productivity, job turnover, and work-equipment adaptations for employees with RA were calculated. Costs of the tumor necrosis factor antagonist adalimumab were compared with those of other RA treatments. Default parameters were based on literature, clinical trials, government sources, and employers' data.


RESULTS
Annual per-employee workplace cost was $9071 for adalimumab versus $16,335 for other RA therapies. Costs included reduced productivity (57%), absenteeism/disability (21%), and job turnover (21%).


CONCLUSIONS
RA imposes a large financial burden on employers, predominantly owing to lost productivity. When compared with other RA therapies, adalimumab substantially reduced employers' costs.
Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA 02199, USA. hbirnbaum@analysisgroup.com
Howard
H
Birnbaum
Crystal
C
Pike
Rebecca
R
Kaufman
Mary
M
Cifaldi
D000041:Absenteeism; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018803:Models, Economic; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000191:economics; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068879:Adalimumab