TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of ITP on physician visits and workplace productivity
AU - Tarantino, Michael D.
AU - Mathias, Susan D.
AU - Snyder, Claire F.
AU - Isitt, John J.
AU - Gernsheimer, Terry
AU - Young, Joan
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA in part through a contract to Health Outcomes Solutions. The Platelet Disorder Support Association received funding from Amgen for their participation in the project, including reviewing the survey and identifying potential participants.
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - Objective: To assess the impact of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) on primary care and specialist visits and workplace productivity. Research design and methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study comparing ITP patients to age-and gender-matched controls. Subjects completed a one-time web-based survey, which included questions on work loss, work productivity, and physician visits. ITP patients and controls were compared on these outcomes. For ITP patients, the relationship between work-related issues and physician visits with clinical characteristics (time since diagnosis, platelet count, number of treatments received, and an ITP-specific health-related quality of life measure, the ITP-PAQ) was explored. Results: A total of 1002 ITP patients and 1031 controls completed the survey. On average, ITP patients were 46 years old, diagnosed 9 years ago, and had platelet counts of 148×109/L; 37 had undergone splenectomy. More ITP patients had primary care (20 vs. 11) and specialist (28 vs. 11) visits in the past month versus controls (p≤0.001). Higher proportions of ITP patients have ever taken sick leave (56 vs. 30), and missed chore hours in the past week (18 vs. 13) (p≤0.003). ITP patients scored significantly worse than controls on all six work productivity items. Patients diagnosed within the past year were more likely to have specialist visits and to miss chore hours versus those diagnosed less recently. Worse ITP-PAQ scores and more ITP-related treatments were related to more physician visits and worse work-related and productivity outcomes. Platelet count is not associated with these outcomes. The study is limited by the potential for biased samples due to recruitment approaches, the inherent issues of a cross-sectional study design and recall bias in questionnaire responses. Conclusions: ITP was consistently associated with more physician visits and worse work and productivity outcomes. Future research should build on these findings by calculating a comprehensive cost-of-illness of ITP including both direct and indirect costs.
AB - Objective: To assess the impact of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) on primary care and specialist visits and workplace productivity. Research design and methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study comparing ITP patients to age-and gender-matched controls. Subjects completed a one-time web-based survey, which included questions on work loss, work productivity, and physician visits. ITP patients and controls were compared on these outcomes. For ITP patients, the relationship between work-related issues and physician visits with clinical characteristics (time since diagnosis, platelet count, number of treatments received, and an ITP-specific health-related quality of life measure, the ITP-PAQ) was explored. Results: A total of 1002 ITP patients and 1031 controls completed the survey. On average, ITP patients were 46 years old, diagnosed 9 years ago, and had platelet counts of 148×109/L; 37 had undergone splenectomy. More ITP patients had primary care (20 vs. 11) and specialist (28 vs. 11) visits in the past month versus controls (p≤0.001). Higher proportions of ITP patients have ever taken sick leave (56 vs. 30), and missed chore hours in the past week (18 vs. 13) (p≤0.003). ITP patients scored significantly worse than controls on all six work productivity items. Patients diagnosed within the past year were more likely to have specialist visits and to miss chore hours versus those diagnosed less recently. Worse ITP-PAQ scores and more ITP-related treatments were related to more physician visits and worse work-related and productivity outcomes. Platelet count is not associated with these outcomes. The study is limited by the potential for biased samples due to recruitment approaches, the inherent issues of a cross-sectional study design and recall bias in questionnaire responses. Conclusions: ITP was consistently associated with more physician visits and worse work and productivity outcomes. Future research should build on these findings by calculating a comprehensive cost-of-illness of ITP including both direct and indirect costs.
KW - Burden of illness
KW - Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
KW - Physician visits
KW - Survey
KW - Work loss
KW - Work productivity
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=74549169010&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1185/03007990903451298
DO - 10.1185/03007990903451298
M3 - Article
C2 - 19968458
AN - SCOPUS:74549169010
SN - 0300-7995
VL - 26
SP - 319
EP - 328
JO - Current Medical Research and Opinion
JF - Current Medical Research and Opinion
IS - 2
ER -