Health-related quality of life, work productivity and costs related to patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Austria
E. Walter, S Hausberger, Evelyn Groß, Uwe Siebert
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease (IBD) is a lifelong illness with significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The disease-burden causes work productivity impairment, such as sick-leave and restriction of leisure time activities. From a societal perspective, productivity loss often contributes significantly to the total costs. The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of disease-burden on work productivity, daily activities, and HRQoL. METHODS: We performed a survey among Austrian patients with IBD to assess general questions about demography and disease pattern, impaired work productivity and reduced daily activities using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire and HRQoL utilizing the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). Associations were assessed employing linear regressions. The questionnaire was circulated by the Austrian Crohn's Disease/Ulcerative Colitis Association. RESULTS: = 0.3964). In total, 143 €per patient per week (95% CI 119-167) were lost (7,411 €per year). On average, patients lost 4 h (95% CI 3:44-4:16) of unpaid daily activities; 3 h 17 min the employed subgroup and 5 h 19 min the not employed. CONCLUSION: IBD leads to a substantial burden of disease, which is associated with indirect costs for society related to work ability reduction. HRQoL significantly influences loss of work productivity. Improving HRQoL should be a key factor to reduce disease burden and societal costs.