Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapies

Abstract Background Severe asthma can cause poor health status, poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and an impaired functioning at work. However, to date, limited data are available on the impact of the biological therapies on such outcomes. Therefore, aim of the present study was to prospec...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Veruscka Leso, Claudio Candia, Daniela Pacella, Antonio Molino, Caterina Nocera, Mauro Maniscalco, Ivo Iavicoli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-03-01
Series:Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-024-00406-9
_version_ 1827309894114476032
author Veruscka Leso
Claudio Candia
Daniela Pacella
Antonio Molino
Caterina Nocera
Mauro Maniscalco
Ivo Iavicoli
author_facet Veruscka Leso
Claudio Candia
Daniela Pacella
Antonio Molino
Caterina Nocera
Mauro Maniscalco
Ivo Iavicoli
author_sort Veruscka Leso
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Severe asthma can cause poor health status, poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and an impaired functioning at work. However, to date, limited data are available on the impact of the biological therapies on such outcomes. Therefore, aim of the present study was to prospectively assess the clinical, quality of life and work functionality issues in severe asthma patients both at baseline and after 6 months of biological therapies and determine which individual, pathological and occupational factors can influence such parameters. Methods Fifty-two patients were enrolled between December 2022 and June 2023. Patients’ personal, clinical, functional and occupational features were assessed. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire and the Work Ability Index (WAI) were employed to assess HRQoL, the employee’s productivity and perception of work ability, respectively. Results Among the enrolled patients, 30 (57.70%) were employed. Biological therapy induced a significant improvement in clinical and functional parameters, e.g., FEV1% (72 ± 12 vs.87 ± 13%; 72 ± 14 vs. 86 ± 14%), FVC% (92 ± 11 vs. 101 ± 11%; 90 ± 13 vs. 98 ± 14%) and FEV1/FVC (62 ± 11 vs. 71 ± 8%; 64 ± 9 vs. 70 ± 8%) in workers and non-workers, respectively (P < 0.001). Comparably, the perception of life quality significantly improved, as physical and mental health scores, in the overall cohort, increased from 40.7 ± 10.3 and 48.5 ± 8.5 to 46.8 ± 8.6 and 51.6 ± 6.4, respectively (P < 0.001). The work ability perception significantly improved from a moderate to a good one (34 ± 6 vs. 40 ± 6, P = 0.001). A significant reduction in the absenteeism (19 ± 15 vs. 3 ± 11%; P < 0.001) and presenteeism rate (53 ± 24 vs. 29 ± 26%; P < 0.001), and an improvement in daily (40 ± 27.5% vs. 28.9 ± 24.7%, P < 0.001, in the overall population) and work activities (57 ± 25 vs. 29 ± 27%, P < 0.001) was determined. Gender, age, symptoms control and pulmonary functionality were correlated with the physical and mental health perception, daily activity impairment and work ability. Conclusions Our study pointed out that biological therapies improved clinical, general life and occupational outcomes in patients with severe asthma. The correlation between clinical aspects and psychological and occupational issues suggest the relevance for a multidisciplinary management of the disease for an effective participation of patients in the world of work.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T19:50:42Z
format Article
id doaj.art-722651cd103d4f69b9887832b4471bcd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1745-6673
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T19:50:42Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
spelling doaj.art-722651cd103d4f69b9887832b4471bcd2024-03-24T12:37:42ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732024-03-0119111510.1186/s12995-024-00406-9Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapiesVeruscka Leso0Claudio Candia1Daniela Pacella2Antonio Molino3Caterina Nocera4Mauro Maniscalco5Ivo Iavicoli6Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico IIAbstract Background Severe asthma can cause poor health status, poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and an impaired functioning at work. However, to date, limited data are available on the impact of the biological therapies on such outcomes. Therefore, aim of the present study was to prospectively assess the clinical, quality of life and work functionality issues in severe asthma patients both at baseline and after 6 months of biological therapies and determine which individual, pathological and occupational factors can influence such parameters. Methods Fifty-two patients were enrolled between December 2022 and June 2023. Patients’ personal, clinical, functional and occupational features were assessed. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire and the Work Ability Index (WAI) were employed to assess HRQoL, the employee’s productivity and perception of work ability, respectively. Results Among the enrolled patients, 30 (57.70%) were employed. Biological therapy induced a significant improvement in clinical and functional parameters, e.g., FEV1% (72 ± 12 vs.87 ± 13%; 72 ± 14 vs. 86 ± 14%), FVC% (92 ± 11 vs. 101 ± 11%; 90 ± 13 vs. 98 ± 14%) and FEV1/FVC (62 ± 11 vs. 71 ± 8%; 64 ± 9 vs. 70 ± 8%) in workers and non-workers, respectively (P < 0.001). Comparably, the perception of life quality significantly improved, as physical and mental health scores, in the overall cohort, increased from 40.7 ± 10.3 and 48.5 ± 8.5 to 46.8 ± 8.6 and 51.6 ± 6.4, respectively (P < 0.001). The work ability perception significantly improved from a moderate to a good one (34 ± 6 vs. 40 ± 6, P = 0.001). A significant reduction in the absenteeism (19 ± 15 vs. 3 ± 11%; P < 0.001) and presenteeism rate (53 ± 24 vs. 29 ± 26%; P < 0.001), and an improvement in daily (40 ± 27.5% vs. 28.9 ± 24.7%, P < 0.001, in the overall population) and work activities (57 ± 25 vs. 29 ± 27%, P < 0.001) was determined. Gender, age, symptoms control and pulmonary functionality were correlated with the physical and mental health perception, daily activity impairment and work ability. Conclusions Our study pointed out that biological therapies improved clinical, general life and occupational outcomes in patients with severe asthma. The correlation between clinical aspects and psychological and occupational issues suggest the relevance for a multidisciplinary management of the disease for an effective participation of patients in the world of work.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-024-00406-9Severe asthmaAsthma managementLung functionalityBiological therapyOccupational healthQuality of life
spellingShingle Veruscka Leso
Claudio Candia
Daniela Pacella
Antonio Molino
Caterina Nocera
Mauro Maniscalco
Ivo Iavicoli
Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapies
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Severe asthma
Asthma management
Lung functionality
Biological therapy
Occupational health
Quality of life
title Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapies
title_full Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapies
title_fullStr Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapies
title_full_unstemmed Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapies
title_short Quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients: the impact of biological therapies
title_sort quality of life and work functionality in severe asthma patients the impact of biological therapies
topic Severe asthma
Asthma management
Lung functionality
Biological therapy
Occupational health
Quality of life
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-024-00406-9
work_keys_str_mv AT verusckaleso qualityoflifeandworkfunctionalityinsevereasthmapatientstheimpactofbiologicaltherapies
AT claudiocandia qualityoflifeandworkfunctionalityinsevereasthmapatientstheimpactofbiologicaltherapies
AT danielapacella qualityoflifeandworkfunctionalityinsevereasthmapatientstheimpactofbiologicaltherapies
AT antoniomolino qualityoflifeandworkfunctionalityinsevereasthmapatientstheimpactofbiologicaltherapies
AT caterinanocera qualityoflifeandworkfunctionalityinsevereasthmapatientstheimpactofbiologicaltherapies
AT mauromaniscalco qualityoflifeandworkfunctionalityinsevereasthmapatientstheimpactofbiologicaltherapies
AT ivoiavicoli qualityoflifeandworkfunctionalityinsevereasthmapatientstheimpactofbiologicaltherapies