Physical function improvements and relief from fatigue and pain are associated with increased productivity at work and at home in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with certolizumab pegol.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between improvements in physical function, fatigue and pain and improvements in productivity at work and at home in patients treated with certolizumab pegol (CZP) in combination with MTX.


METHODS
Physical function, fatigue and pain were assessed in two CZP clinical trials (Rheumatoid Arthritis PreventIon of structural Damage 1 and 2) using the HAQ-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and Patient Assessment of Pain, with minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) defined as ≥ 0.22, ≥ 1 and ≥ 10 points, respectively. Work and home productivity were evaluated using the RA-specific Work Productivity Survey (WPS-RA). The odds of achieving an HAQ-DI, FAS or pain 'response' at Week 12, defined as improvements ≥ MCID, were compared between CZP and control groups. Improvements in productivity at Week 12 were compared between CZP-treated HAQ-DI, FAS or pain responders and non-responders.


RESULTS
The odds of achieving improvements ≥ MCID were five times higher for pain, and two to three times higher for physical function and fatigue, in patients receiving CZP vs control. Per month, responders reported significantly greater improvements in productivity at work and reduced interference of RA with their work productivity than non-responders. Responders also reported significantly greater improvements in productivity at home and participation in family, social and leisure activities.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated a clear association between patient-reported improvements in physical function, fatigue and pain, and improvements in productivity both at work and home.
Hazes
Johanna M
JM
Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.hazes@erasmusmc.nl
Taylor
Peter
P
Strand
Vibeke
V
Purcaru
Oana
O
Coteur
Geoffroy
G
Mease
Philip
P
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D004526:Efficiency / Q000187:drug effects*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol