Browsing by Subject "HAQ"

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with prevalence around 0.8 % in Finland. Joint inflammation causes pain, tenderness and swelling in joint as well as loss of functional and work capacity. Patients need healthcare resources and medical treatments cause substantial costs to patient and society. Severity of RA can be measured by Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Previous studies suggest these measures are related to higher direct and indirect cost. The aims of this study are to determine cost of RA in Finland and analyse cost by disease activity and functional disability. Literature review was performed by using some methods from systematic reviews to identify previous studies examining cost of RA by DAS28 and HAQ scores. Secondly in this master thesis was made a quantitative cost analysis which study population was identified from the National register for Biologics in Finland (ROB-FIN) and patient records of the Central Finland Central Hospital. The cost data for direct and productivity costs was received from Finnish national registries. Costs were determined from the followed six months after patients' (N=2285) first routine outpatient visit to specialized healthcare. Distribution of costs was examined by DAS28 and HAQ score based classification. Additionally cost related to RA was determined separately between biologic and non-biologic drug users. Total average costs of the study population were 11 720 € biannually. Direct costs, productivity costs and total costs were higher for patients with higher DAS28 and HAQ scores. Increase in average total costs between best and worst DAS28 and HAQ classifications were 7817 -15 838 € and 8545 - 16 718 €, respectively. In the cost categories changes in both directions were detected between different DAS28 and HAQ score classifications. Drug costs comprised largest part of direct costs (56 %). RA related average total costs increased from best to worst DAS28 and HAQ class for both biologic and non-biologic drug users (p<0,01). Similar study based real life register data is not previous made in Finland. Studies in other countries can`t be directly adapted to Finnish healthcare system, treatment traditions and productivity costs. This study provides information for real-life cots of RA and how they are related to disease activity and functional disability. This information can be used in modelling of cost-effectiveness.