Description:
<jats:p>Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the disease activity and both indirect costs and health-related quality of life among ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in Poland. Methods: A questionnaire-based, self-report survey was conducted using th (P-SCCAI) to assess disease activity, and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI) to assess productivity loss. The quality of life was presented as utility calculated using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Additionally, the reduction of usual activities, other than paid work and the need of assistance were assessed. Indirect costs were assessed with the Human Capital Approach and were expressed in euros (€). Correlations were presented using the Spearman’s coefficient, the between-group difference was assessed with Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson c2 test. Results: 305 full questionnaires were collected. Indirect cost due to absenteeism and presenteeism per year per working patient with disease in remission was €2,559 (95%CI:1,283-3,835) and due to informal care was €10.38 (95%CI:0-31.20). The corresponding values for patients with active disease were €5,605 (95%CI:4,744-6,466) and €645.36 (95%CI:333.77-956.96). The between-group differences in above values was statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference in utility values between patients with disease in remission (0.934, 95%CI:0.919-0.949) and patients with active disease (0.826, 95% CI:0.807-0.845) was statistically significant. Conclusions: The statistically significant difference was identified in productivity loss and health related quality of life among patients with active disease and patients with disease in remission. The significant difference was also observed in the average reduction of usual activities and the need for assistance in performing usual activities.</jats:p>