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Study: RA annually costs 4,800 euros per person in Finland
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Among 7,831 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis in Finland, the annual productivity costs were €4,800 per year, with costs increasing multiple years after diagnosis, according to study findings.
“A similar gradually increasing trend had also been observed in previous studies from Sweden, a country with a social security system similar to Finland,” Janne A. Martikainen, PhD, associate professor at the University of Eastern Finland School of Pharmacy, and colleagues wrote. “Further, the majority of these [productivity costs] PC are incurred by a small proportion of patients.”
Martikainen and colleagues performed a cohort study of 7,831 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and were identified in the national drug reimbursement register for taking antirheumatic RA medications between 2000 and 2007. Using other national registries, the researchers determined work absenteeism days and permanent disability pensions for this cohort.
They found the mean annual PC to be €4,800 per person, which declined after the first year of diagnosis. However, this figure increased significantly after multiple years. Most of these costs were accounted for by 20% of patients. Furthermore, active drug treatment in the first 3 months reduced PC compared with no drug treatment.
“[This] finding gives support for the concept that there is a ‘window of opportunity’ in early RA, and that prompt initiation of active therapy seems to exert positive effects in the long run,” the researchers wrote. “Not only to relieve the patient’s symptoms but also to improve economic productivity.” – by Will Offit
Disclosure: The researchers were supported by a grant from the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation.
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