Differences in wage earnings between psoriasis patients on biologics versus those on oral therapies: a population-based study in the United States

Abstract

Introduction A critical gap exists in determining how various systemic treatments may differentially impact patients’ wage earnings. Methods We compared personal economic indicators (annual and hourly wages, weekly hours worked, and disability days) between psoriasis patients on biologic therapies versus those on oral medications. Using the 2003–2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we performed multivariate linear regression analyses to investigate the relationship between personal economic indicators and psoriasis treatment. Results The number of U.S. respondents with psoriasis who reported using biologic or oral therapies between 2003 and 2015 was 2,638,681 (weighted). The mean annual wage among patients on biologics ($52,141.34 [95% CI 40,976–63,306]) was significantly higher than that of patients on oral therapies ($33,584.87 [95% CI 27,687–39,483]) (p=.019). The mean weekly hours worked among patients on biologics (43.7 h [95% CI 40.01–47.47]) was significantly higher than that of patients on oral therapies (40.6 h [95% CI 39.66–41.59]) (p = .003). Hourly wage and disability days were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Psoriasis patients on biologics earned higher annual wages compared to those on oral therapies, and this is primarily due to the increased number of work hours by those on biologic therapies.