Costs Associated With Severe and Nonsevere Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Canada. Issue 3 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clarke, Ann E.; Urowitz, Murray B.; Monga, Neerav; Hanly, John G.
• Is Part Of: Arthritis care & research. Volume 67:Issue 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 431
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Arthritis -- Periodicals; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.72
• DOI: 10.1002/acr.22452
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2151-464X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acr22452-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To evaluate the annual direct medical cost of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Canada by disease severity and to estimate the incremental cost associated with disease severity and flares.</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22452-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Medical charts of consecutive patients seen in 3 SLE‐specialized treatment centers between July 2007 and June 2008 were retrospectively assessed for disease severity at baseline and for disease activity and health care resource utilization over the following 2 years (±6 months). Annual cost was stratified by disease severity at baseline. Two‐year cost was compared for patients with and without flares over 2 years. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the associations between annual cost and SLE severity, and between 2‐year cost and the number and type of flare (mild/moderate versus severe).</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22452-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>A total of 109 active SLE patients (94% women, mean age 41.4 years, mean disease duration 11.3 years, 56 patients with severe disease) were studied. The average annual direct medical cost was $10, 608 Canadian (2010 dollars) and was higher for patients with severe disease, $15, 048 versus $5, 917 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). The 2‐year direct cost for patients with at least 1 flare was $22, 633 versus $11, 113 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.028) for patients without flares. The mean incremental annual cost was $7, 007 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] $3, 487, $13, 048) for an SLE patient with severe disease, and the 2‐year mean incremental cost was $5, 848 (95% CI $2, 919, $8, 777) for each additional severe flare.</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22452-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The direct health care cost of SLE patients in Canada is influenced by disease severity and the type and frequency of flares.</p> </sec> </abstract>