[Cost analysis in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients managed in rheumatology units in Spain].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the annual costs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients attended at rheumatology units in Spanish public hospitals.

METHODS: A longitudinal, prospective, multicenter, observational, 1-year study was performed in the rheumatology units of randomly selected Spanish public hospitals. Randomly selected RA patients were included. The patients made four visits (at baseline and every 4 months). Resource use and costs were collected from patient diaries and structured questionnaires.

RESULTS: A total of 301 patients were included and 190 (83% women) completed the study. The mean (± SD) age was 59±13 years and the mean disease duration was 10±10 years. The median annual cost per patient was 3,845 euros (318-36,783). The estimated total annual cost of the Spanish RA population managed in the rheumatology units of public hospitals was 590,110,000 euros. Of total costs, 74% were direct costs and 26% were indirect costs. Medical costs represented 81% of direct costs. The main components of medical costs were drugs (56%), medical visits (21%), complementary tests (12%), and hospitalizations (11%). Permanent work disability represented 66% of indirect costs.

CONCLUSIONS: Direct costs were substantially higher than indirect costs. The main components of medical costs were drugs. There was high variability in resource use with a wide range of annual costs per patient.