Anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics improve work productivity and activity in severe asthma: a RAPSODI registry-based cohort...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Immunology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Severe asthma significantly impacts patients' lives, causing limitations in daily activities and work productivity.
• Current treatments may not fully address the burden of severe asthma, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effects of biologics targeting IL-5/5Ra on work productivity and activity in a real-world setting.
• To assess the relationship between treatment with anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics and improvements in clinical outcomes for severe eosinophilic asthma patients.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center, registry-based cohort study using data from the Dutch Register of Adult Patients with Severe Asthma for Optimal DIsease management (RAPSODI).
• Inclusion criteria: adults with severe eosinophilic asthma initiating anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics and completing the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire.
• Comparison of patient characteristics between employed and unemployed groups, and correlation of work productivity with clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

• At baseline, 66% of patients were employed, a proportion that remained stable. Patients of working age were younger and had better asthma control.
• Mean overall work impairment due to health significantly decreased from 25.5% to 17.6% after 12 months of anti-IL-5/5Ra biologic treatment (P=0.010).
• A 0.5-point improvement in asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire) was associated with a 9% reduction in overall work impairment (β=8.7, P=0.01).

Conclusions:

• Biologic treatment targeting IL-5/5Ra demonstrably improves work productivity and daily activity in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.
• Clinically meaningful improvements in asthma control are directly linked to significant reductions in work impairment, underscoring the value of targeted therapies.