Work absenteeism and disability associated with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in the USA-a retrospective study of claims data from 2009 TO 2020.

OBJECTIVES: To compare work absenteeism and short-term disability among adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA), versus controls in the USA. METHODS: Adults eligible for work absenteeism and/or short-term disability benefits between 1/1/2009 and 4/30/2020 were screened in the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial and Health and Productivity Management Databases. The following groups were defined: (1) psoriasis: ≥ 2 psoriasis diagnoses ≥ 30 days apart and no PsA diagnoses; (2) PsA: ≥ 2 PsA diagnoses ≥ 30 days apart; (3) control: absence of psoriasis and PsA diagnoses. Controls were matched to psoriasis and PsA patients based on age, gender, index year, and comorbidities. Non-recreational work absences and sick leaves were evaluated in absentee-eligible patients, and short-term disability was evaluated in short-term disability-eligible patients. Costs (in 2019 USD) associated with each type of work absence were evaluated. RESULTS: 4261 psoriasis and 616 PsA absentee-eligible and 25,213 psoriasis and 3480 PsA short-term disability-eligible patients were matched to controls. Average non-recreational work absence costs were $1681, $1657, and $1217 for the PsA, psoriasis, and control group, respectively. Compared with psoriasis patients and controls, more PsA patients had sick leaves after 1 year (56.2% versus 55.6% and 41.5%, p < 0.0001). Similarly, short-term disability was more frequent in PsA patients than psoriasis patients and controls at year one (8.8% versus 5.6% and 4.7%, p < 0.0001) and corresponding costs were higher ($605, $406, and $335 on average, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Annual work absenteeism and short-term disability were consistently greater among patients with PsA and psoriasis than controls, highlighting the substantial economic burden of psoriatic disease. Key points • Patients with PsA had greater short-term disability compared with patients with psoriasis and patients with neither psoriasis nor PsA. • Patients with PsA and patients with psoriasis incurred greater non-recreational work absences and sick leaves than patients with neither psoriasis nor PsA.

Clinically relevant reductions in HbA1c without hypoglycaemia: results across four studies of saxagliptin.

BACKGROUND: In four 24-week controlled studies, the antihyperglycaemic efficacy of saxagliptin was demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as add-on therapy to glyburide, a thiazolidinedione, or metformin, and when used in initial combination with metformin vs. metformin monotherapy in drug-naive patients. METHODS: Data from these studies were analysed to compare the proportions of patients who achieved specific reductions from baseline in glycated haemoglobin [HbA(1c); reductions of ≥ 0.5% and ≥ 0.7% in all studies (prespecified); reductions ≥ 1.0% in the add-on studies and ≥ 1.0% to ≥ 2.5% in the initial combination study (post hoc)] for saxagliptin vs. comparator at week 24. We report overall rates of glycaemic response defined by these reductions in HbA(1c) and rates of response without experiencing hypoglycaemia. RESULTS: Large glycaemic response rates were higher with saxagliptin 2.5 and 5 mg/day than with comparator (HbA(1c) ≥ 1.0%, 31.7-50.3% vs. 10.3-20.0%) as add-on therapy and higher with saxagliptin 5 mg/day as initial combination with metformin than with metformin monotherapy (HbA(1c) ≥ 2.0%, 68.3% vs. 49.8%) in drug-naive patients. Addition of saxagliptin was associated with a low incidence of hypoglycaemia; overall response rates and response rates excluding patients who experienced hypoglycaemia were similar. Analysis of several demographic and baseline clinical variables revealed no consistent correlations with response to saxagliptin. CONCLUSIONS: Whether receiving saxagliptin as an add-on therapy to glyburide, a thiazolidinedione, or metformin or in initial combination with metformin, a greater percentage of patients achieve clinically relevant large reductions in HbA(1c) vs. comparator, with a low incidence of hypoglycaemia.

Effect of St. John's Wort extract on intestinal expression of cytochrome P4501A2: studies in LS180 cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: St. John's Wort (SJW) is known to induce expression and activity of cytochrome P4503A4 (CYP3A4). However, its effects on other cytochrome P450 (CYP) are not well understood. Our objective was to characterise the effect of SJW on the expression of CYP1A2 in the LS180 intestinal cell model. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: LS180 cells were cultured in the presence and absence of SJW extract for 48 hours. CYP1A2 protein content was measured by Western blot analysis using monoclonal antibody. Time-dependent expression of CYP1A2 was assessed during exposure to SJW extract for 24 hours and following its removal for another 24 hours. RESULTS: SJW increased the expression of CYP1A2 in the LS180 cells in a concentration dependent manner. The induction was time-dependent, as enzyme levels returned to baseline within 4-8 hours after removal of SJW. CONCLUSIONS: SJW reversibly induces expression of CYP1A2 in LS180 cells. This induction may be responsible for reduced plasma theophylline concentrations upon co-administration of SJW, as reported earlier.