A cross-sectional survey of work and income loss consideration among patients with herpes zoster when completing a quality of life questionnaire

Abstract Background Prior research suggests that many patients do not spontaneously include work/income loss when responding to utility assessments, although this remains unconfirmed in the US due to almost no published US-based studies to date, and has not been previously studied among patients with herpes zoster (HZ). The objective of this study was to examine whether patients with HZ consider work and income loss when completing a quality of life survey. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered to 2000 US adult commercial health plan enrollees aged 50–64 years with ≥ 1 HZ medical claim during 2014. The survey collected information related to health status (EQ-5D), work productivity, and HZ severity and clinical features. Results Mean respondent age was 58.4 years [standard deviation (SD) 4.1] and 62.0% were female. About 3 in 4 (76.8%) patients (N = 772) were employed either full (69.9%) or part time (6.9%). Less than half (45%) spontaneously considered work/income loss when responding to EQ-5D, and mean EQ-5D scores for patients who considered work/income loss were lower than for patients who did not [0.56 (SD = 0.28) vs. 0.69 (SD = 0.24); p < 0.001]. Overall, 43% of patients reported at least one full day missed (mean = 9 full days) and 29% reported at least one partial day missed (mean = 6 partial days) during the most recent shingles episode. Patients who considered work loss were more likely to have missed full (76.4% vs 26.0%, p < 0.001) or partial (70.9% vs. 35.2%, p < 0.001) days. Patients with absenteeism were more likely to consider work/income loss when completing EQ-5D [odds ratio (OR) = 7.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.01–12.31]. Odds of absenteeism/presenteeism increased significantly with increasing levels of HZ severity, and higher odds were associated with pain located on the face/scalp/neck/eye/ear (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.06–3.40) and with pain lasting 12+ months (OR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.14–7.42). Conclusions HZ has considerable impact on the work and productivity of adults aged 50–64 years old. However, many patients with HZ do not spontaneously consider work/income loss when completing a standardized quality of life questionnaire. Studies that use health state utilities in HZ based on EQ-5D may not fully reflect the societal costs of work loss

A real-world study evaluating adeQUacy of Existing Systemic Treatments for patients with moderate-to-severe Atopic Dermatitis (QUEST-AD): Baseline treatment patterns and unmet needs assessment

© 2019 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Background: Systemic therapies are commonly used for patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and impaired quality of life (QoL). However, real-world treatment patterns and unmet needs of adults with moderate-to-severe AD receiving systemic therapies are poorly quantified. Objective: To evaluate unmet needs in patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with systemic therapies. Methods: Adults with AD diagnosis in past 5 years and a prescription for systemic treatment or phototherapy in past 6 months were identified from the Optum Research Database. Patients completed a survey about symptoms, treatment, and QoL. Chi-squared and t tests analyzed bivariable comparisons of demographics and outcomes. Spearman\u27s rank-order correlation analyses examined the relationship between frequency of flares and outcomes. Results: Eight hundred and one participants were included (mean age, 45.2 years; 71.8% female). In the 12 months before baseline survey, 38.3% reported no remission from AD. In the month before baseline survey, 63.6% used topical corticosteroids, and 81.3% of patients experienced 1 or more flares. Patients experiencing flares reported worse Patient-Orientated Eczema Measure (POEM), Peak Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (DLQI), lower treatment satisfaction, and greater work productivity loss than patients without flares (all P \u3c .001). Patients with severe atopic dermatitis reported worse POEM, Peak Pruritus NRS, and DLQI, lower treatment satisfaction, and greater work productivity loss than patients with moderate AD (all P \u3c .001). Conclusion: Despite receiving systemic therapies, adults with moderate-to-severe AD reported disease symptoms, recurrent flares, and impaired QoL, suggesting unmet therapeutic needs

Predicted estimates of resting energy expenditure have limited clinical utility in patients with cirrhosis: an individual patient data analysis

© 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Association for the Study of the Liver. This is the accepted manuscript version of an article which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2022.01.005Background & Aim: Malnutrition is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Accurate assessment of energy requirements is needed to optimize dietary intake. Resting energy expenditure (REE), the major component of total energy expenditure, can be measured using indirect calorimetry (mREE) or estimated using prediction equations (pREE). This study assessed the usefulness of predicted estimates of REE in this patient population.  Methods: Individual mREE data were available for 900 patients with cirrhosis (mean [±1SD] age 55.7±11.6 yr; 70% men; 52% south-east Asian) and 282 healthy controls (mean age 36.0±12.8 yr; 52% men; 18% south-east Asian). Metabolic status was classified using thresholds based on the mean±1SD of the mREE in the healthy controls. Comparisons were made between mREE and pREE estimates obtained using the Harris-Benedict, Mifflin, Schofield and Henry equations. Stepwise regression was used to build three new prediction models which included sex, ethnicity, body composition measures, and MELD scores.  Results: The mean mREE was significantly higher in patients than controls when referenced to dry body weight (22.43.8 cf. 20.82.6 kcal/kg/24hr; p<0.001); there were no significant sex differences. The mean mREE was significantly higher in Caucasian than Asian patients (23.1±4.4 cf. 21.7±2.9 kcal/kg/24hr; p<0.001). Overall, 37.1% of Caucasians and 25.3% of Asians were classified as hypermetabolic. The differences between mREE and pREE were both statistically and clinically relevant; in the total patient population, pREE estimates ranged from 501 kcal/24hr less to 548 kcal/24hr more than the mREE. Newly-derived prediction equations provided better estimates of mREE but still had limited clinical utility.  Conclusions: Prediction equations do not provide useful estimates of REE in patients with cirrhosis. REE should be directly measured.Peer reviewe

Predicted estimates of resting energy expenditure have limited clinical utility in patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIM: Malnutrition is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Accurate assessment of energy requirements is needed to optimize dietary intake. Resting energy expenditure (REE), the major component of total energy expenditure, can be measured using indirect calorimetry (mREE) or estimated using prediction equations (pREE). This study assessed the usefulness of predicted estimates of REE in this patient population. METHODS: Individual mREE data were available for 900 patients with cirrhosis (mean [±1SD] age 55.7±11.6 yr; 70% men; 52% south-east Asian) and 282 healthy controls (mean age 36.0±12.8 yr; 52% men; 18% south-east Asian). Metabolic status was classified using thresholds based on the mean±1SD of the mREE in the healthy controls. Comparisons were made between mREE and pREE estimates obtained using the Harris-Benedict, Mifflin, Schofield and Henry equations. Stepwise regression was used to build three new prediction models which included sex, ethnicity, body composition measures, and MELD scores. RESULTS: The mean mREE was significantly higher in patients than controls when referenced to dry body weight (22.4±3.8 cf. 20.8±2.6 kcal/kg/24hr; p<0.001); there were no significant sex differences. The mean mREE was significantly higher in Caucasian than Asian patients (23.1±4.4 cf. 21.7±2.9 kcal/kg/24hr; p<0.001). Overall, 37.1% of Caucasians and 25.3% of Asians were classified as hypermetabolic. The differences between mREE and pREE were both statistically and clinically relevant; in the total patient population, pREE estimates ranged from 501 kcal/24hr less to 548 kcal/24hr more than the mREE. Newly-derived prediction equations provided better estimates of mREE but still had limited clinical utility. CONCLUSIONS: Prediction equations do not provide useful estimates of REE in patients with cirrhosis. REE should be directly measured