OBJECTIVES: Perianal fistulas (PF) are a common complication of Crohn’s disease (CD), and patients with Crohn’s perianal fistulas (CPF) often have a greater burden of illness than patients with CD without PF. This study assessed the impact of PF on work productivity and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with CD with and without PF.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and UK, in patients aged ≥ 21 and ≤ 90 years with self-reported physician-diagnosed CD. Three patient cohorts were assessed: non-PF CD (C1); CPF without PF-related surgery (C2); and CPF with PF-related surgery (C3). Patient data were collected using a 45-minute IRB/EC-approved web-enabled questionnaire. Work productivity was evaluated using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment in Crohn’s Disease Scale (WPAI:CD). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Of 929 patients recruited (C1, n = 620; C2, n = 174; C3, n = 135), overall, 58%, 67% and 69% were male and 55%, 64% and 67% were aged 21–40 years in C1, C2 and C3, respectively. Patients with CPF had significantly higher (more impaired) WPAI-CD scores across all domains than patients without CPF: 21% vs 15% for ‘worktime missed’ (for patients currently working); 54% vs 39% for ‘impairment while working’ and 61% vs 45% for ‘overall work impairment’ (for patients who worked in the past 7 days); and 57% vs 45% for ‘impairment due to CD’ (for all patients), respectively (all p < 0.001). The number (mean [standard deviation]) of emergency room visits and inpatient stays was significantly higher for patients with CPF than those without CPF (2.1 [2.5] vs 1.5 [3.5] and 1.8 [2.6] vs 1.0 [2.1], respectively; all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with CPF have a significantly higher work activity impairment and HCRU than patients without CPF.