OBJECTIVE: To compare the healthcare cost and loss of productivity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with (LN) and without lupus nephritis (lupus nephritis-negative, LNN). METHOD: Patients were classified into those with active (ALN and ALNN) and inactive disease (ILN and ILNN). Patients reported on visits to healthcare professionals and use of diagnostic tests, medications, assistive devices, alternative treatments, hospital emergency visits, surgical procedures, and hospitalizations as well as loss of productivity in the 4 weeks preceding enrollment. RESULTS: Enrollment was 141 patients, 79 with LN and 62 LNN. Patients with LN were more likely to visit rheumatologists and nephrologists, undergo diagnostic tests, and had higher costs for medications than patients who were LNN. The annual healthcare cost averaged $CAN 12,597 ± 9946 for patients with LN and $10,585 ± 13,149 for patients who were LNN, a difference of $2012 (95% CI -$2075, $6100). Patients with ALN had more diagnostic tests and surgical procedures, contributing to a significantly higher annual direct cost ($14,224 ± 10,265) compared to patients with ILN ($9142 ± 8419) and a difference of $5082 (95% CI $591, $9573). The healthcare cost was not different between patients with ALNN and patients with ILNN. In patients with LN and patients who were LNN, < 50% were employed and on average missed 6.5-9 days of work per month. The loss of productivity was significantly higher for caregivers of patients with LN than caregivers of patients who were LNN. CONCLUSION: Healthcare cost and loss of productivity were similar between patients with LN and patients who were LNN; the loss of productivity for caregivers is higher for patients with LN; and the healthcare cost is greater in ALN than in ILN.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the healthcare cost and loss of productivity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with (LN) and without lupus nephritis (lupus nephritis-negative, LNN). METHOD:Patients were classified into those with active (ALN and ALNN) and inactive disease (ILN and ILNN). Patients reported on visits to healthcare professionals and use of diagnostic tests, medications, assistive devices, alternative treatments, hospital emergency visits, surgical procedures, and hospitalizations as well as loss of productivity in the 4 weeks preceding enrollment. RESULTS: Enrollment was 141 patients, 79 with LN and 62 LNN. Patients with LN were more likely to visit rheumatologists and nephrologists, undergo diagnostic tests, and had higher costs for medications than patients who were LNN. The annual healthcare cost averaged $CAN 12,597 ± 9946 for patients with LN and $10,585 ± 13,149 for patients who were LNN, a difference of $2012 (95% CI -$2075, $6100). Patients with ALN had more diagnostic tests and surgical procedures, contributing to a significantly higher annual direct cost ($14,224 ± 10,265) compared to patients with ILN ($9142 ± 8419) and a difference of $5082 (95% CI $591, $9573). The healthcare cost was not different between patients with ALNN and patients with ILNN. In patients with LN and patients who were LNN, < 50% were employed and on average missed 6.5-9 days of work per month. The loss of productivity was significantly higher for caregivers of patients with LN than caregivers of patients who were LNN. CONCLUSION: Healthcare cost and loss of productivity were similar between patients with LN and patients who were LNN; the loss of productivity for caregivers is higher for patients with LN; and the healthcare cost is greater in ALN than in ILN.
Authors: Sasha Bernatsky; Audrey Smargiassi; Markey Johnson; Gilaad G Kaplan; Cheryl Barnabe; Larry Svenson; Allan Brand; Stefania Bertazzon; Marie Hudson; Ann E Clarke; Paul R Fortin; Steven Edworthy; Patrick Bélisle; Lawrence Joseph Journal: Environ Res Date: 2015-05-16 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: Laura Holloway; Louise Humphrey; Louise Heron; Claire Pilling; Helen Kitchen; Lise Højbjerre; Martin Strandberg-Larsen; Brian Bekker Hansen Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2014-07-22 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Megan R W Barber; John G Hanly; Li Su; Murray B Urowitz; Yvan St Pierre; Juanita Romero-Diaz; Caroline Gordon; Sang-Cheol Bae; Sasha Bernatsky; Daniel J Wallace; David A Isenberg; Anisur Rahman; Ellen M Ginzler; Michelle Petri; Ian N Bruce; Paul R Fortin; Dafna D Gladman; Jorge Sanchez-Guerrero; Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman; Munther A Khamashta; Cynthia Aranow; Meggan Mackay; Graciela S Alarcón; Susan Manzi; Ola Nived; Andreas Jönsen; Asad A Zoma; Ronald F van Vollenhoven; Manuel Ramos-Casals; Guillermo Ruiz-Irastorza; S Sam Lim; Kenneth C Kalunian; Murat Inanc; Diane L Kamen; Christine A Peschken; Soren Jacobsen; Anca Askanase; Chris Theriault; Vernon Farewell; Ann E Clarke Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2018-08-17 Impact factor: 4.794