Arthritis drug adalimumab helps people with rheumatoid arthritis stay in work

A biologic drug called adalimumab seems to improve people’s ability to work when they have rheumatoid arthritis, says research in Clinical Rheumatology.

It can be difficult for people living with painful rheumatoid arthritis to work but new drugs are making a big difference. Experts looked at what impact arthritis drug, adalimumab, had in this area when taken on a long-term basis.

They analysed data from 783 volunteers with rheumatoid arthritis who were employed (72% were women, average age 48 years old). The volunteers were started on adalimumab and continued it for 24 months.

Before starting adalimumab, 43% of the group had higher than normal sick leave days in the previous six months. But during 24 months of adalimumab treatment, 61% returned to a normal number of days off ill. Their scores of “Work Productivity and Activity Impairment” improved, and their disease activity decreased.

“Adalimumab treatment was associated with strong and sustained improvements in work-related outcomes in employed patients who continued on adalimumab for 24 months,” the experts outline. “Despite improvements in sick leave days and work absenteeism, presenteeism (impairment while at work) remained relatively high.”

Click here to read the original research. 

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