Mcbride D, Abuzakouk M, Balp M, Berard F, Canonica GW, Gimenez-Arnau A, Grattan C, Hollis K, Khalil S, Knulst A, Lacour J, Lynde C, Marsland A, Nakonechna A, Ortiz De Frutoz FJ, Oude Elberink J, Proctor C, Sussman G, Weller K, Maurer M. Comparative analysis of indirect costs associated with chronic spontaneous/idiopathicurticaria-results from the ASSURE-CSU study in 7 countries. Poster presented at the 2016 ISPOR 19th Annual European Congress; November 1, 2016. Vienna, Austria. [abstract] Value Health. 2016 Nov; 19(7):A573.

OBJECTIVES: The ASSURE-CSU study is an observational, non-interventional, multinational, and multicentre study of patients with chronic spontaneous/idiopathic urticaria (CSU/CIU) in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK). The current research reports the comparative indirect costs in CSU patients across countries.

METHODS: Patients with diagnosed CSU who were symptomatic despite treatment were recruited. Employed patients (56.5%) completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. Indirect costs due to CSU were calculated for absenteeism (work time missed), presenteeism (impairment while working), and overall work productivity loss (algorithm incorporating absenteeism and presenteeism) based on a national average 4-week salary (from local national statistics). To enable cost comparison across countries, purchasing power parity (PPP) approach was used. Mean (SD) costs in each country currency were divided by the corresponding PPP exchange rate using published exchange rates available from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for 2014.

RESULTS: Mean (SD) cost for absenteeism over 4 weeks in each country was: Italy [PPP$45.4 (120.5)], Netherlands [PPP$122.0 (470.9)], Spain [PPP$139.8 (414.2)], France [PPP$168.4 (586.4)], Canada [PPP$186.7 (373.5)], UK [PPP$294.9 (687.7)] and Germany [PPP$313.8 (844.8)]. Country-specific mean presenteeism costs were: France [PPP$544.5 (583.2)], Italy [PPP$588.3 (562.8)], Spain [PPP$904.6 (965.0)], Canada [PPP$928.5 (818.3)], UK [PPP$980.9 (891.1)], Netherlands [PPP$1056.3 (1351.0)], and Germany [PPP$1180.0 (1083.9)]. Overall work productivity loss costs were driven primarily by the cost of presenteeism, and ranged from PPP$544.8 (603.2) in France to PPP$1287.4 (1123.8) in Germany. The lower indirect costs in France and Italy were driven by lower reported presenteeism, and in Italy, lower absenteeism.

CONCLUSIONS: CSU impacts patients’ capacity to work and this is reflected in substantial societal costs. Results suggest a significant societal and economic burden associated with inadequately-controlled CSU, and strengthen the need for effective treatment in this population.