Background/Purpose: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a unique inflammatory arthritis that affects the skin, nails, and the joints. Most of the patients consider PsA to have a significant effect on their quality of life, which significantly impairs work productivity and daily activities. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effects of anti-TNF agents on work productivity measures in patients with PsA.

Methods: Male or female patients with confirmed diagnosis of PsA and initiated an anti-TNF treatment were enrolled and followed-up for 9 months in this multi‑center, prospective, observational post‑marketing study. Patients evaluated workplace and household productivity by completing Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire and assessed global assessment of disease activity, pain, and fatigue using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline and every 3 months until 9^th month visit. Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS-28) was evaluated by the physicians at each visit according to the American College of Rheumatology Response Criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Patients enrolled between January 2014 and April 2016 were included in this initial statistical analysis.

Results: A total of 120 patients were included in this study and 55.0% of the patients were female. Mean (±SD) age was 41.5 (±11.1) years and mean time since diagnosis of PsA was 6.7 (±6.5) years. Mean duration of anti-TNF treatment was 8.9 (±2.2) months. Significant improvements were observed in the number of swollen and tender joints, as well as score of enthesitis and dactylitis at the end of the study comparing to baseline (p<0.001). At each visit an improvement in DAS-28 scores was observed when compared to the previous visit (p<0.001). Throughout the study, all patient reported VAS scores (global assessment of disease activity, nocturnal back pain and fatigue, total back pain, global assessment of pain and fatigue) reduced significantly (p<0.001). Mean number of missing working days was significantly reduced (5.3 vs. 1.3 days; p<0.001), however the numerical increase in mean number of working hours was not statistically significant when compared to baseline (39.5 vs. 45.6 hours; p=0.126). Patients experienced an improvement in work productivity on the basis of missed hours during the last 7 days due to health problems (p<0.001). Patient reported WPAI scores revealed that during anti-TNF treatment, health related problems that effect productivity were significantly reduced (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Patients with PsA experienced a significant improvement in their clinical evaluations and work productivity during long-term anti-TNF treatment.

Table 1. Mean results at each visit and statistical significance