Presenteeism in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Hidden Problem with Significant Economic Impact

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Occupational Health
• Health Economics

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly impacts work productivity through presenteeism, contributing to substantial indirect health costs.
• Previous US-based cost estimations overlooked presenteeism in IBD patients.
• Quantifying work limitations and presenteeism in IBD is crucial for developing strategies to reduce indirect costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify work limitations and presenteeism in patients with IBD.
• To estimate the associated indirect costs in the IBD population.
• To generate recommendations for reducing presenteeism and associated economic burden.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary IBD center.
• Work productivity, work-related issues, quality of life, and disease activity were assessed in IBD patients.
• Absenteeism and presenteeism costs were estimated and compared to a control group.

Main Results:

• 62.9% of IBD patients experienced presenteeism versus 27.3% in controls (P=0.004).
• IBD patients in remission showed significantly higher presenteeism (54.7%) and indirect costs ($17,766/yr) compared to controls ($9179/yr).
• Only 34.3% of IBD patients made work adjustments for issues like fatigue and decreased motivation.

Conclusions:

• Patients with IBD face significant presenteeism and work limitations, even during clinical remission.
• These limitations result in elevated indirect costs and reduced quality of life for IBD patients.
• A majority of IBD patients do not utilize available adjustments to manage work-related challenges.