Biologic Therapies Improve Work Outcomes in Spondyloarthritis

By Jack Cush, MD | 14 September 2018

A study from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register in Axial Spondyloarthritis (BSRBR-AS) shows that biologic use significantly improves work productivity and overall activity impairment.

The BSRBR-AS registry analyzed 577 participants who were employed; 28% were started on biological therapy .

After 12-months of follow-up, those receiving biologic therapy had significantly greater improvements (relative to non-biological therapy) in presenteeism, overall work impairment, and overall activity impairment; however there was no difference in absenteeism.

There is consistent evidence that treatment with biological therapy improves these work and activity measures.

Disclosures:

The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose related to this subject

Add new comment

If you are a health practitioner, you may Login/Register to comment.

More Like This

Recommendations for Exercise in Ankylosing Spondylitis

By Jack Cush, MD | 03 Jun 2019

Australian researchers have assessed the problem of exercise in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). After posing 10 questions to 11 experts they have provided evidence and consensus-based ecommendations on exercise in AS.

[...]

Biologic Retention in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients

By Jack Cush, MD | 29 May 2019

A study of biologic-naïve patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who started therapy with a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) shows that after 5 years only 46% are still on a TNFi and that some are able to lower the dose over time.

A nationwide Swedish Rheumatology register followed 2590 Bio-naïve AS who started a TNFi between 2006–2015.

[...]

Low Serious Infection Risk with Newer Agents in Psoriasis

By Jack Cush, MD | 13 May 2019

JAMA Dermatology reports on a comparative cohort study of 107,707 psoriasis patients, finding a decreased risk of serious infections among users of apremilast, etanercept, and ustekinumab when compared with methotrexate.

[...]

Skyrizi (risankizumab) FDA Approved for Psoriasis

By Jack Cush, MD | 24 Apr 2019

AbbVie has announced that the US FDA has granted the approval of Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Skyrizi is an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor that was also recently approved in Canada and Japan. Skyrizi is the third IL-23 inhibitor (behind guselkumab [Tremfya] and tildrakizumab [Ilumya]) to be approved in the last year.

[...]

Higher Comorbidities in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

By Jack Cush, MD | 19 Apr 2019

JAMA Dermatology reports that patients with hidradenitis suppurativa have significantly more comorbidities than do patients with psoriasis.

A cross-sectional study compared 5306 HS patients, 14 037 patients with psoriasis, and 1 733 810 controls from electronic health records between 2013 and 2018. Specifically they examined comorbidities using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score.

[...]

You are here