PRS36 IMPACT of Omalizumab on Paid and Unpaid Work Productivity Among Severe Japanese Cedar Pollinosis Patients

Abstract

Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) is a form of seasonal allergic rhinitis that affects 38.8% of the Japanese population. Furthermore, associated symptoms among severe JCP patients lead to impairment of work (paid work), and activities of daily living (unpaid work). The current standard of care (SoC) for severe / the most severe types of JCP includes combination uses of second-generation antihistamines, nasal steroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists, occasionally use of nasal vasoconstrictor. Even with the SoC, symptoms may not be relieved in some patients with these types of JCP; therefore, omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, has been recently approved as a new treatment in Japan. In this study, we have estimated the impact of omalizumab on paid and unpaid work in this JCP population in Japan. The impact of omalizumab on paid and unpaid work productivity was retrospectively evaluated based on Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Allergy Specific scores, obtained from a recent trial of omalizumab (NCT03369704) enrolling patients with severe JCP. The ‘human capital approach’ for paid work and the ‘replacement cost approach’ for unpaid work were implemented to monetize the benefit with wages: benefit quantified by using official Japanese statistics on employment and time use. These estimates were simulated in a static cohort model and sensitivity analysis conducted to account for model structural uncertainties. Nearly one-third of paid and unpaid work productivity losses can be avoided by omalizumab. Male patients accounted for the major share of ‘avoided’ paid work productivity losses; whereas, the ‘avoided’ unpaid work losses are substantially contributed by females. Omalizumab provides substantial benefits in terms of paid and unpaid work in patients with severe / the most severe JCP. Further, the results suggest that unpaid work is of importance when estimating productivity costs due to poor health.