The economic burden of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review of literature in biologic era

Hsieh, P.-H., Wu, O. , Geue, C. , McIntosh, E. , McInnes, I. B. and Siebert, S. (2020) The economic burden of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review of literature in biologic era. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 79(6), pp. 771-777. (doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216243) (PMID:32245893)

[img]
Preview
Text
211957.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

597kB
[img]
Preview
Text
211957Suppl.pdf - Supplemental Material
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

404kB

Abstract

Background: The past decades have seen rapid advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In particular, the introduction of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs have improved clinical outcomes and reconfigured traditional RA cost compositions. Objectives: To map the existing evidence concerning cost of illness of RA, as the treatment pathway evolves in the biologic era, and examine how costs have been measured and estimated, in order to assemble and appropriately interpret available data. Methods: Systematic review of studies that estimated the costs of patients with RA. Multiple electronic databases were searched to identify studies published between 2000 and 2019. The reported total costs and cost components were evaluated according to the study and population characteristics. The Cochran-Armitage test was used to determine statistically significant trends in increasing or decreasing proportions over time. Results: Overall, 72 studies were included. Drug costs compromised the main component (up to 87%) of direct costs with an increasing trajectory over time, although not statistically significant. The proportion of costs for hospitalisation showed a statistically significant decrease chronologically (p=0.044). Indirect costs, primarily associated with absenteeism and work disability accounted for 39% to 86% of total costs. The reported indirect costs are highly sensitive to the approach to estimation. Conclusions: A decreasing trend in inpatient costs chronologically suggested a cost shift in other components of direct costs. Indirect costs still contributed a considerable proportion of total costs, with work disability being the main cost component. Economic analyses that do not incorporate or appropriately measure indirect costs will underestimate the full economic impact of RA.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:PHH is funded by Tri Service General Hospital, Taiwan through a PhD scholarship.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McInnes, Professor Iain and Siebert, Professor Stefan and Wu, Professor Olivia and McIntosh, Professor Emma and Geue, Dr Claudia and Hsieh, Ping Hsuan
Authors: Hsieh, P.-H., Wu, O., Geue, C., McIntosh, E., McInnes, I. B., and Siebert, S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Research Centre:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
Journal Name:Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Publisher:BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:0003-4967
ISSN (Online):1468-2060
Published Online:03 April 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 The Authors
First Published:First published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 79(6): 771-777
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record