An assessment of the annual and long-term direct costs of rheumatoid arthritis: The impact of poor function and functional decline

1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1209-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Yelin ◽  
Lee A. Wanke
2021 ◽  
pp. 174749302110062
Author(s):  
Xin Xu ◽  
Cheuk Ni Kan ◽  
Christopher Li-Hsian Chen ◽  
Saima Hilal

Background Cortical cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) are a small vessel disease (SVD) biomarker underlying cognitive impairment and dementia. However, it is unknown whether CMIs are associated with neuropsychiatric disturbances, and whether its effects are independent of conventional SVD markers. Aims We investigated the associations of CMI burden with incidence and progression of neuropsychiatric subsyndromes (NPS) in a memory clinic cohort of elderly in Singapore. Methods In this prospective cohort, 496 subjects underwent detailed neuropsychological and clinical assessments, 3T brain MRI, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory assessment at baseline and 2 years later. Cortical CMIs and other SVD markers, including white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, and microbleeds, were graded according to established criteria. NPS were clustered into subsyndromes of Hyperactivity, Psychosis, Affective, and Apathy following prior findings. Functional decline was determined using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. Results The presence of multiple CMIs (≥2) was associated with higher NPS-total (β=4.19, 95% CI=2.81-5.58, p<0.001), particularly Hyperactivity (β=2.01, 95% CI=1.30-2.71, p<0.01) and Apathy (β=1.42, 95% CI=0.65-2.18, p<0.01) at baseline. Between baseline and year-2, multiple CMIs were associated with accelerated progression in NPS-total (β=0.29, 95% CI=0.06-0.53, p=0.015), driven by Hyperactivity (β=0.45, 95% CI=0.17-0.72, p<0.01). Subjects with multiple CMIs also had a faster functional decline, as measured with the CDR-sum-of-boxes scores, when accompanied with NPS-total progression (β=0.31, 95% CI=0.11-0.51, p<0.01), or Hyperactivity (β=0.34, 95% CI=0.13-0.56, p<0.01). Conclusion Cortical CMIs are associated with incidence and progression of geriatric neurobehavioral disturbances, independent of conventional SVD markers. The impact of incident CMIs on neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric trajectories warrants further investigations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 498.3-499
Author(s):  
P. H. Hsieh ◽  
C. Geue ◽  
O. Wu ◽  
E. McIntosh

Background:Comorbidities are prevalent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and associated with worse outcomes as well as higher economic burden. Little is known about the impact of multimorbidity on the direct and indirect costs of RA. Evidence of the incremental scale of these multimorbidity costs will usefully inform RA interventions and policies.Objectives:The aim of this study was to describe how multimorbidity impacts on the cost-of-illness, including direct and indirect costs, in patients with RA.Methods:The Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (SERA) is a registry of patients newly presenting with RA since 2011. It contains data on patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, health-related quality of life, and employment status data. These data were linked to routinely recorded hospital admissions and primary care prescribing data. Direct costs were estimated by applying relevant unit costs to healthcare resource use quantities. Indirect cost estimates were obtained from information on employment status and hospital admissions, valued by age and sex specific wages. Two-part models (probit followed by generalized linear model) were used to estimate direct and indirect costs, adjusting for age, gender, and functional disability. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score was calculated using patient ICD-10 diagnoses from hospital records. The number of comorbidities was categorized into “RA alone”, “single comorbidity” and “multimorbidity (>1 comorbidity)”.Results:Data were available for 1,150 patients, 65.7% were female and a mean age of 57.5±14 years. The majority of patients only had RA (54.1%), followed by a single comorbidity (23.4%) and multimorbidity (22.5%). Annual total costs were significantly higher for patients with multimorbidity (£6,669 95% CI £4,871-£8,466; OR 11.3 95% CI 8.14-15.87) and for patients with a single comorbidity (£2,075 95% CI £1,559-£2,591; OR 3.52 95% CI 2.61-4.79), when compared with RA alone (£590). The excess costs were mainly driven by direct costs (£6,281 versus £1,875 versus £556). Although the difference in indirect costs between patients with multimorbidity and a single comorbidity were not statistically significant (£1,218 versus £914, p=0.11), patients with multimorbidity were associated with significantly higher costs than those with RA only (£594, p<0.01).Conclusion:The presence of comorbidity contributes significant excess to both direct and indirect costs among RA patients. In particular, patients with multimorbidity incurred substantially higher direct costs than those with a single comorbidity or RA only.Acknowledgements:The study analysed the data from the Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (SERA) study with a linkage to routinely recorded health data from Information Service Division, National Service Scotland. We would like to thank all the patients, clinical and nursing colleagues who have contributed their time and support to the study, the SERA steering committee for the approval, and Allen Tervit from the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow for the timely technical supports.Disclosure of Interests:Ping-Hsuan Hsieh: None declared, Claudia Geue: None declared, Olivia Wu Consultant of: OW has received consultancy fees from Bayer, Lupin and Takeda outside the submitted work., Emma McIntosh: None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 629-629
Author(s):  
Silke Metzelthin ◽  
Sandra Zwakhalen ◽  
Barbara Resnick

Abstract Functional decline in older adults often lead towards acute or long-term care. In practice, caregivers often focus on completion of care tasks and of prevention of injuries from falls. This task based, safety approach inadvertently results in fewer opportunities for older adults to be actively involved in activities. Further deconditioning and functional decline are common consequences of this inactivity. To prevent or postpone these consequences Function Focused Care (FFC) was developed meaning that caregivers adapt their level of assistance to the capabilities of older adults and stimulate them to do as much as possible by themselves. FFC was first implemented in institutionalized long-term care in the US, but has spread rapidly to other settings (e.g. acute care), target groups (e.g. people with dementia) and countries (e.g. the Netherlands). During this symposium, four presenters from the US and the Netherlands talk about the impact of FFC. The first presentation is about the results of a stepped wedge cluster trial showing a tendency to improve activities of daily living and mobility. The second presentation is about a FFC training program. FFC was feasible to implement in home care and professionals experienced positive changes in knowledge, attitude, skills and support. The next presenter reports about significant improvements regarding time spent in physical activity and a decrease in resistiveness to care in a cluster randomized controlled trial among nursing home residents with dementia. The fourth speaker presents the content and first results of a training program to implement FFC in nursing homes. Nursing Care of Older Adults Interest Group Sponsored Symposium


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Fu Liu ◽  
Chih-Kuo Lee ◽  
Kuan-Chih Huang ◽  
Lian-Yu Lin ◽  
Mu-Yang Hsieh ◽  
...  

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an independent nontraditional risk factor for incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and post-MI outcome is impaired in the RA population. Use of beta-blockers improves the long-term survival after MI in the general population while the protective effect of beta-blockers in RA patients is not clear. We investigate the impact of beta-blockers on the long-term outcome of MI among RA patients.Methods: We identified RA subjects from the registries for catastrophic illness and myocardial infarction from 2003 to 2013. The enrolled subjects were divided into three groups according to the prescription of beta-blockers (non-user, non-selective, and β1-selective beta-blockers). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. We adjusted clinical variables and utilized propensity scores to balance confounding bias. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the incidence of mortality in different groups.Results: A total of 1,292 RA patients with myocardial infarction were enrolled, where 424 (32.8%), 281 (21.7%), and 587 (45.5%) subjects used non-user, non-selective, and β1-selective beta-blockers, respectively. Use of beta-blockers was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality after adjustment with comorbidities, medications (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.871; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.727–0.978), and propensity score (HR 0.882; 95% CI 0.724–0.982). Compared with β1-selective beta-blockers, treatment with non-selective beta-blockers (HR 0.856; 95% CI 0.702–0.984) was significantly related to lower risk of mortality. The protective effect of non-selective beta-blockers remained in different subgroups including sex and different anti-inflammatory drugs.Conclusion: Use of beta-blockers improved prognosis in post-MI patients with RA. Treatment with non-selective beta-blockers was significantly associated with reduced risk of mortality in RA patients after MI rather than β1-selective beta-blockers.


2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (24) ◽  
pp. 5814-5830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Demark-Wahnefried ◽  
Noreen M. Aziz ◽  
Julia H. Rowland ◽  
Bernardine M. Pinto

Purpose Cancer survivors are at increased risk for several comorbid conditions, and many seek lifestyle change to reduce dysfunction and improve long-term health. To better understand the impact of cancer on adult survivors' health and health behaviors, a review was conducted to determine (1) prevalent physical health conditions, (2) persistent lifestyle changes, and (3) outcomes of previous lifestyle interventions aimed at improving health within this population. Methods Relevant studies from 1966 and beyond were identified through MEDLINE and PubMed searches. Results Cancer survivors are at increased risk for progressive disease but also for second primaries, osteoporosis, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and functional decline. To improve overall health, survivors frequently initiate diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes after diagnosis. However, those who are male, older, and less educated are less likely to adopt these changes. There also is selective uptake of messages, as evidenced by findings that only 25% to 42% of survivors consume adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, and approximately 70% of breast and prostate cancer survivors are overweight or obese. Several behavioral interventions show promise for improving survivors' health-related outcomes. Oncologists can play a pivotal role in health promotion, yet only 20% provide such guidance. Conclusion With 64% of cancer patients surviving > 5 years beyond diagnosis, oncologists are challenged to expand their focus from acute care to managing the long-term health consequences of cancer. Although more research is needed, opportunities exist for oncologists to promote lifestyle changes that may improve the length and quality of life of their patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 992.2-992
Author(s):  
S. Farih ◽  
H. Rkain ◽  
S. Fellous ◽  
S. Ahid ◽  
R. Abouqal ◽  
...  

Background:Objectives:The aim of this study was to estimate the annual direct cost of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis and to evaluate the impact of social factors on biological use and costs.Methods:Patients in the Moroccan register of biologicals (RBSMR) with available 1-year data were included. Variables related to socio-economic status, disease and biological were collected. Direct costs included prices of biologics, costs of infusions, and subcutaneous injections. Biological use and costs were compared based on social factors.Results:Our study included 197 patients (female sex of 86.8%, mean age of 52.3 ± 11 years). Patients were on one of the following therapies: Rituximab (n=132), Tocilizumab (n=37) or TNF-blockers (n=28). 44.2% of included patients have the RAMED medical assistance (health insurance scheme for the economically underprivileged). Illiteracy was noted in 45.7% of cases. Median one-year direct costs per patient were €1,665 [€1,472 - €9,879].There was no statistically significant difference in costs between men and women (p>0.05), between illiterate and literate (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in costs between patients with the RAMED medical assistance scheme and other health insurances (p<0.01).Conclusion:This study showed that Moroccan RA patients had equal access to biologics regardless of their gender or level of education. Indeed, the insurance system influence the costs of biologics. Accessibility of those expensive treatments in a developing country seems be explained by efforts of the Moroccan ministry of health who has allocated a substantial budget for biologic DMARDs for patients with RAMED in the tertiary structures in our country.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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