Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis--does it affect society's cost for the disease?

To assess whether the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis reduces the cost to society of the disease, 62 patients were studied retrospectively over an 18 month period. The first 6 months (period 1) was the time before treatment with remission-inducing drugs (RID). The following 6 month period (period 2) was the time when RID treatment was started and suitable doses were evaluated. The last 6 month period (period 3) was the follow-up period when the results of the treatment were evaluated. The cost for drugs, surgical treatment, out-patient visits, blood tests and hospitalization days during periods 2 and 3 was calculated as 1.6 million SEK. During the same period, the cost for loss of productivity to society was reduced by 1.5 million SEK, assuming that the cost to society would have been unchanged, compared to period 1, if therapy had not been given. In a small group of patients who entered remission, the net saving for society exceeded the cost of treatment. The study indicates that the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can lead to a reduced cost to society.