Workplace impacts of anti-TNF therapies in rheumatoid arthritis: review of the literature | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Blake, J., Brooks, J., Greenbaum, H., Chan, F.
Year Published	2009
Publication	Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
Volume	10
Number	2
Pages	255-269
Publisher	Informa Healthcare
Background	Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain and serious functional impacts and substantially affects patients' daily lives, including their ability to work.
Purpose	The purpose of the paper is to examine recent studies of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis treated with TNF antagonists and the impacts these therapies have on the workplace.
Setting	This study is a systematic review. The included studies were undertaken in various locations and settings.
Sample	The sample included 133 articles and 14 poster abstracts that studied the impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Data Collection	The studies were categorized into three distinct groups: general RA, DMARD, and TNF-antagonist literature. The general RA literature was used as a backdrop when examining literature regarding the impacts of DMARDs and the emergence of anti-TNF therapies on the workplace.
Control	There were no comparison or control conditions.
Findings	The results of early studies of the TNF antagonists varied regarding their effects on patients with RA in the workplace. Recent studies of adalimumab showed positive impacts across a range of workplace burdens.
Conclusions	Treatments such as adalimumab may help employees with RA to remain in the workforce and lead to reduced workplace costs to the employers and employees.
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19236197
Disabilities
Populations	Male & Female
Outcomes	Employment acquisition \| Increase in tenure
NIDILRR Funded
Research Design	Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2009

Publication

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy

Volume

10

Number

2

Pages

255-269

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain and serious functional impacts and substantially affects patients' daily lives, including their ability to work.

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine recent studies of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis treated with TNF antagonists and the impacts these therapies have on the workplace.

Setting

This study is a systematic review. The included studies were undertaken in various locations and settings.

Sample

The sample included 133 articles and 14 poster abstracts that studied the impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Data Collection

The studies were categorized into three distinct groups: general RA, DMARD, and TNF-antagonist literature. The general RA literature was used as a backdrop when examining literature regarding the impacts of DMARDs and the emergence of anti-TNF therapies on the workplace.

Control

There were no comparison or control conditions.

Findings

The results of early studies of the TNF antagonists varied regarding their effects on patients with RA in the workplace. Recent studies of adalimumab showed positive impacts across a range of workplace burdens.

Conclusions

Treatments such as adalimumab may help employees with RA to remain in the workforce and lead to reduced workplace costs to the employers and employees.

URL

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19236197

Disabilities

Populations

Male & Female

Outcomes

Employment acquisition | Increase in tenure

NIDILRR Funded

Research Design

Systematic reviews and meta-analysis

Peer Reviewed

Yes