Direct costs related to rheumatoid arthritis

the patient perspective

verfasst von

J. L. Hülsemann, T. Mittendorf, S. Merkesdal, S. Handelmann, J. M. Von Der Schulenburg, H. Zeidler, J. Ruof, S. Zeh

Abstract

Objective: To determine rheumatoid arthritis related out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) in Germany and to disaggregate the total OOPE into contributing cost domains. Methods: Data for the cost analysis were drawn from a multicentre randomised controlled prospective trial to assess the effectiveness of clinical quality management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Both payer sources and patient cost questionnaires were used to generate health care utilisation data. All cost domains of a recently published matrix were reviewed and potential sources of OOPE were determined. Health care utilisation data were developed throughout 2001. Co-payment regulations as per January 2004 were applied in order to indicate the most recent level of OOPE in Germany. Data were analysed in both physical and monetary units using descriptive statistics. Results: In all, 136 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included. Mean total OOPE per patient and year was €417.20 (SEM 38.8, median 271.2). OOPE accounted for 15.3% of the total direct costs of rheumatoid arthritis. Total OOPE were further subdivided into cost domains: "non-physician service utilisation" (€194.40 per patient and year; SEM 24.2), "medication" (€99.00; 6.1), "transportation" (€56.20; 17.4), "visits to physicians" (€38.40; 0.6), "hospital facilities" (€24.00; 5.6), and "devices and aids" (€5.10; 0.8). Conclusions: Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with substantial OOPE, imposing a considerable economic burden for patients. OOPE contribute significantly to the total health care expenditure in rheumatoic arthritis. The patient perspective has to be taken into account when calculating the overall direct costs of rheumatoid arthritis from a societal point of view.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH)

Externe Organisation(en)

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH)

Typ

Übersichtsarbeit

Journal

Annals of the rheumatic diseases

Band

64

Seiten

1456-1461

Anzahl der Seiten

6

ISSN

0003-4967

Publikationsdatum

10.2005

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Immunologie und Allergologie, Rheumatologie, Immunologie, Allgemeine Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2004.031880 (Zugang: Offen)