Impact of Myeloproliferative neoplasms on patients’ employment status and work productivity in the United States: results from the living with MPNs survey

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are at increased risk for thrombotic and cardiovascular events and experience a variety of burdensome symptoms. However, there is a paucity of data in the biomedical literature about how MPNs impact productivity in the workplace. This analysis of the Living with MPNs survey was conducted to evaluate the impact of MPNs on employment, career potential, and work productivity.MethodsThis cross-sectional online survey included respondents aged 18–70 years living in the United States with a diagnosis of MF, PV, or ET. The survey consisted of ~ 100 questions related to MPN diagnosis, disease-related medical history, MPN-related symptoms and functional status, changes in employment and work productivity, and impact on daily activities since diagnosis. The MPN Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS) was used to assess symptom burden. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Specific Health Problem questionnaire (WPAI-SHP) was used to assess the effects of MPNs on work productivity and activity (7-day recall) among currently employed respondents. Correlations between MPN-SAF TSS and WPAI-SHP scores were calculated using Spearman’s coefficients.ResultsOf 904 respondents, 592 were employed (MF, n = 174; PV, n = 248; ET, n = 170) at the time of their MPN diagnosis. Approximately half (50.5%) of the 592 employed survey respondents reported ≥1 change in employment status because of their diagnosis, most commonly “left a job” (30.2%) “went on medical disability leave” (24.8%), and “had reductions in work hours for at least 3 months” (21.8%). Among respondents who remained employed at the time of survey participation (n = 398), mean WPAI-SHP scores were as follows: absenteeism, 6.9%; presenteeism, 27.4%; overall work impairment, 31.1%; and activity impairment, 32.8%. WPAI-SHP scores positively correlated with MPN-SAF TSS (correlation coefficients, 0.37–0.70; P < 0.001).ConclusionsHalf of the employed respondents had an employment status change (eg, leaving a job, medical disability leave, early retirement) because of their disease since the diagnosis. Currently employed respondents reported meaningful impairments in work productivity and activities of daily living that were attributable to their MPNs, and the degree of impairments highlighted the severity of symptom burden.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4322-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Landscape: A Patient’s Eye View

“…The findings from the Landmark study are echoed in other surveys of PROs in MPN [6,[8][9][10]. In a study conducted in the UK and USA, significant reductions in QoL relative to controls were observed, as well as differences in QoL between UK and US patients, and in symptom burden between male and female patients [6].…”

“…The US ''Living with MPNs'' survey found that all three types of MPNs have a substantial negative impact on patients' employment status, career potential, and work productivity comparable to the impairment levels reported for other disabling chronic conditions [9,10]. While patients with MF and those with higher symptom burden reported the greatest impact, a notable proportion of patients with PV and ET and lower symptom burden were also severely impacted by their symptoms and corresponding impairments associated with their disease [9,10].…”

“…The wide-ranging nature and degree of the impact of MPNs has been highlighted in an increasing number of studies over recent years [3,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. One of the largest studies was the international MPN Landmark survey, conducted from April 2016 to October 2016, which included data from over 800 patients with MPN and over 450 physicians across the USA, and almost 700 patients with MPN and over 200 physicians across Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK [3,7].…”

“…The overall burden of disease associated with MPNs has a significant negative impact on patients' lives. Recent studies have shown that MPNs result in marked impairment of quality of life (QoL), work productivity, everyday life, and relationships [3,[6][7][8][9][10], and they are associated with significant emotional issues, including depression and anxiety [11,12]. While the impact is generally greatest in patients with MF, and in higher-risk patients or those with greater symptom burden, negative effects are seen across the disease spectrum [3,6,7,9].…”

Impact of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) on Patient Employment and Income: Findings From the Living with MPNs Survey

“…In addition to symptom-related reduction in quality of life [5][6][7], patients with an MPN also experience work impairments and decreased productivity [5,7,8]. In the Living with MPNs survey, a crosssectional online survey of patients with an MPN living in the United States, approximately half (50.5%) of employed respondents reported ≥1 change in employment status related to their diagnosis [8].…”