The Clinical and Economic Impact of Employees Who Are Care Partners of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis by Disease Severity

Abstract

**Background:** Research on employee care partners of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is limited. **Objectives:** The clinical and economic impact on employee care partners was evaluated by MS disease severity. **Methods:** Employees with spouses/domestic partners with MS from the Workpartners database (Jan. 1, 2010–Dec. 31, 2019) were eligible if: spouse/partner had at least 3 MS-related (ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM:340.xx/G35) inpatient/outpatient/disease-modifying therapy claims within 1 year (latest claim = index date); 6-month pre-index/1-year post-index enrollment; and age 18 to 64 years. Employee care partners’ demographic/clinical characteristics and direct/indirect costs were compared across predetermined MS severity categories. Logistic and generalized linear regression modeled the costs. **Results:** Among 1041 employee care partners of patients with MS, 358 (34.4%) patients had mild MS, 491 (47.2%) moderate, and 192 (18.4%) severe. Mean (standard error [SE]) employee care partner age was 49.0 (0.5) for patients with mild disease, 50.5 (0.4) for moderate, 51.7 (0.6) for severe; percent female care partners was 24.6% [2.3%] mild, 19.8% [1.8%] moderate, 27.6% [3.2%] severe; and mean care partner Charlson Comorbidity Index scores 0.28 (0.05) mild, 0.30 (0.04) moderate, 0.27 (0.06) severe. More care partners of patients with moderate/severe vs mild MS had hyperlipidemia (32.6%/31.8% vs 21.2%), hypertension (29.5%/29.7% vs 19.3%), gastrointestinal disease (20.8%/22.9% vs 13.1%), depression (9.2%/10.9% vs 3.9%), and anxiety 10.6%/8.9% vs 4.2%). Adjusted mean medical costs were greater for employee care partners of patients with moderate vs mild/severe disease (_P_<.001). Pharmacy costs (SE) were lower for employee care partners of mild vs severe/moderate patients (_P_<.005). Sick leave costs (SE) were greater for employee care partners of mild/severe vs moderate patients (_P_<.05). **Discussion:** Employee care partners of patients with moderate/severe vs mild MS had more comorbidities (ie, hypertension, gastrointestinal disease, depression, and anxiety) and higher pharmacy costs. Employee care partners of patients with moderate vs mild/severe MS had higher medical and lower sick leave costs. Treatment strategies that improve patient outcomes may reduce employee care partner burden and lower costs for employers in some instances. **Conclusions:** Comorbidities and direct/indirect costs of employees whose spouses/partners have MS were considerable and varied with MS severity.