THU0273 Factors Associated with Absenteeism, Presenteeism and Activity Impairment in Patients with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA)
Authors: C. Baldini, S. L'Abbate, C. Congestri, F. Ferro, M. Latorre, V. Seccia, N. Luciano, S. Bombardieri, M. Mosca
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) may substantially affects patients9 daily life, including their ability to work. However, to date a limited number of studies have investigated the effect of the disease severity on work productivity and non-work activities. <h3>Objectives</h3> 1) to describe the productivity outcomes of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment General Health (WPAI-GH) questionnaire, including absenteeism, presenteeism and activity impairment in patients with EGPA 2) to explore any eventual correlation/association between patients9 clinical characteristics and each of these productivity outcomes 3) to investigate any eventual correlation between WPAI-GH outcomes and a battery of questionnaires used to assess self-reported clinical and health outcomes. <h3>Methods</h3> Consecutive, unselected patients with EGPA were included in this single center cross-sectional study. A standardized data set including demographic, comorbidities, disease activity score (BVAS), damage score (VDI) and outcome data was collected prospectively. A questionnaire battery incorporating the WPAI-GH was administered along with a number of other questionnaires assessing self-reported clinical and health outcomes including: SF-36, Sino Nasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22) and Asthma Control questionnaire (ACQ). <i>Statistical analysis:</i> Contingency table, Fisher9s exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney test and Spearman9s rank correlation coefficient were employed. <h3>Results</h3> Analysis included 26 EGPA patients, with the mean age at onset being 47 years (S.D. 45 years) and disease duration from symptoms onset being 80 months (min 8 mo-max 335 mo). Twenty patients out of 26 were working for pay. Out of them, 10% reported missing work in the past week due to their health problem, accounting for ∼8% of their working time (absenteeism). For patients at work, 15% of their actual work was impaired due to their health problems (presenteeism). In addition, 34% of the patients9 regular daily activities (activity impairment) had been prevented due to their health problems. We did not find any relationship between WPAI-GH productivity outcomes and patients9 demographic, disease duration, ANCA status or clinical phenotype (EGPA vs HASM). The WPAI absenteeism was moderately correlated with the SF-36 physical component (r=-0.43). The WPAI presenteeism, work productivity loss and activity impairment were moderately correlated with the SNOT-22 (r=0.48 to 0.57). The work productivity loss correlated also with the BVAS score (r=0.44). The WPAI activity impairment was finally moderately correlated with patients9 ACQ (r=0.54), VDI (r=0.52) and BVAS (r=0.61) and strongly correlated with both the SF-36 physical (r=-0.65) and mental (r=-0.80) component. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Productivity loss was quite common in our series of EGPA patients and should be taken into account by physicians in their treatment considerations. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared