Anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics improve work productivity and activity in severe asthma.

Introduction: Severe asthma is associated with a serious disease burden, partially caused by limitations in activity and work impairment (1,2).

Aims and objectives: This study aims to relate treatment with biologics targeting IL-5/5Ra to work productivity and activity in the long term in a real-world context.

Material and Methods: This is a registry-based multi-center cohort study evaluating data from adults with severe eosinophilic asthma included in the Dutch Register of Adult Patients with Severe Asthma for Optimal DIsease management (RAPSODI). Patients that started with anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics and completed the work productivity and activity improvement questionnaire, were included. Study and patient characteristics were compared between the employed and unemployed patients. Work productivity and activity impairment are related to accompanying improvements in clinical outcomes. 

Results: At baseline, 91 of 137 patients (66%) were employed which remained stable throughout the follow-up period. Patients in the working age category were younger and had significantly better asthma control (p =0.02). Mean overall work impairment due to health decreased significantly from 25.5% (SD2.6) to 17.6% (SD 2.8) during 12 months anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics treatment (P=0.010). There was a significant association between ACQ6 and overall work improvement after targeted therapy (b =8.7, CI 2.1-15.4, P=0.01). The improvement of asthma control of 0.5 points on the asthma Control Questionnaire was associated with an overall work impairment of - 9%. 

Conclusions: Work productivity and activity in severe eosinophilic asthma improved after starting anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics.