OBJECTIVE: To answer the question 'does TNF blockade therapy enable people with severe AS to return to work or work more productively?'. METHODS: All patients with AS currently receiving anti-TNF therapy at two UK Hospitals were asked to complete a questionnaire. This asked about occupational history, type of work, degree of job-related physical activity, working hours and sickness absence from work both currently (on anti-TNF treatment) and pre-treatment. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (72.3% male), aged 29-64 (mean 46.1) yrs, whose duration of anti-TNF treatment ranged from 3 to 56 (mean 19.1) months were studied. Twenty-four (36.9%) patients were receiving infliximab, 21 (32.3%) etanercept and 20 (30.8%) adalimumab. Pre-treatment, 46 (70.8%) were in employment (1 was a student); 38 (58.5%) were working full-time and 8 (12.3%) part-time; 19 (29.2%) were not working. On treatment, 50 (76.9%) patients were working, 44 (67.7%) full-time and 6 (9.2%) part-time. Two individuals who worked part-time pre-treatment had returned to work full-time. Thus, on treatment, 4 of the 19 patients who were previously unable to work returned to employment, and 2 others increased their work from part-time to full-time. Patients rated the effect of AS on work capacity as 7.05/10 pre-treatment and 2.92/10 post-treatment. Those who were working lost, on average, 15 days from work due to sick leave in the 12 months pre-treatment and 0.91 days in the first 12 months on treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of active AS with TNF blockade appears to be associated with improved capacity for work.
OBJECTIVE: To answer the question 'does TNF blockade therapy enable people with severe AS to return to work or work more productively?'. METHODS: All patients with AS currently receiving anti-TNF therapy at two UK Hospitals were asked to complete a questionnaire. This asked about occupational history, type of work, degree of job-related physical activity, working hours and sickness absence from work both currently (on anti-TNF treatment) and pre-treatment. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (72.3% male), aged 29-64 (mean 46.1) yrs, whose duration of anti-TNF treatment ranged from 3 to 56 (mean 19.1) months were studied. Twenty-four (36.9%) patients were receiving infliximab, 21 (32.3%) etanercept and 20 (30.8%) adalimumab. Pre-treatment, 46 (70.8%) were in employment (1 was a student); 38 (58.5%) were working full-time and 8 (12.3%) part-time; 19 (29.2%) were not working. On treatment, 50 (76.9%) patients were working, 44 (67.7%) full-time and 6 (9.2%) part-time. Two individuals who worked part-time pre-treatment had returned to work full-time. Thus, on treatment, 4 of the 19 patients who were previously unable to work returned to employment, and 2 others increased their work from part-time to full-time. Patients rated the effect of AS on work capacity as 7.05/10 pre-treatment and 2.92/10 post-treatment. Those who were working lost, on average, 15 days from work due to sick leave in the 12 months pre-treatment and 0.91 days in the first 12 months on treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of active AS with TNF blockade appears to be associated with improved capacity for work.
Authors: U Kiltz; J Sieper; H Kellner; D Krause; M Rudwaleit; J-F Chenot; A Stallmach; S Jaresch; J Braun Journal: Z Rheumatol Date: 2014-09 Impact factor: 1.372
Authors: Suzanne M M Verstappen; Kath D Watson; Mark Lunt; Katie McGrother; Deborah P M Symmons; Kimme L Hyrich Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2010-05-05 Impact factor: 7.580
Authors: U Kiltz; J Braun; A Becker; J-F Chenot; M Dreimann; L Hammel; A Heiligenhaus; K-G Hermann; R Klett; D Krause; K-F Kreitner; U Lange; A Lauterbach; W Mau; R Mössner; U Oberschelp; S Philipp; U Pleyer; M Rudwaleit; E Schneider; T L Schulte; J Sieper; A Stallmach; B Swoboda; M Winking Journal: Z Rheumatol Date: 2019-12 Impact factor: 1.372