ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
    • 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
    • 2017 ACR/ARHP PRSYM
    • 2016-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • Meeting Resource Center

Abstract Number: 1836

Early Versus Delayed Initiation of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sharon Van Doornum1, Lynden Roberts2, Mark D. Reed3 and Danny Liew4, 1Department of Medicine (RMH/WH), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 2School of Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, 3Rheumatology, Sir Charles Gairdiner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia, 4Melbourne EpiCentre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Meeting: 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: DMARDs, economics and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Session Information

Session Title: Epidemiology and Health Services Research: Rheumatic Disease Pharmacoepidemiology

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose: Studies from a number of countries suggest that the time between symptom onset and initiation of DMARD therapy in RA patients is still longer than would be considered optimal, or even acceptable. We sought to assess the health economic impact of this delay in an Australian context.

Methods: Delay in initiation of DMARD therapy was estimated from a 2005 study of 96 Australian patients with RA referred to one public and four private rheumatology practices. RA-associated utilities and costs were sourced from published data. Patients not taking and taking DMARD therapy were assumed to have utilities of 0.443 and 0.543, respectively. The annual direct costs of RA, excluding DMARDs, was AUD $3780, and the annual cost of DMARD therapy was $2658. It was conservatively assumed that DMARD therapy did not reduce non-DMARD RA costs (that is, it was $3780 for all patients).

Results: In the 2005 study, the mean time from time of symptom onset to initiation of DMARD therapy was found to be 17.7 months, or 1.48 years. Over the 1.48 years, a mean of 0.65 QALYs would have been lived per patient and $5579 of direct healthcare costs incurred. Had DMARDs been commenced at the time of symptom onset, 0.80 QALYs would have been lived per patient, and $9503 of direct healthcare costs incurred. The differences of 0.15 QALYs and $3924 in direct healthcare costs equated to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $26,583 per QALY saved. Up to $4500 of additional costs could be spent per patient to reduce the time to initiation of DMARDs before the ICER breached the arbitrary cut-off of $50,000 per QALY saved. Our analysis was conservative in it did not consider the long-term health and cost savings associated with avoidance of permanent joint damage.

Conclusion: There is considerable delay in the initiation of DMARD therapy among patients with RA, which leads to significant health loss. Reducing the time to initiation of DMARDs represents a cost-effective means of reducing the burden of RA.


Disclosure:

S. Van Doornum,
None;

L. Roberts,
None;

M. D. Reed,
None;

D. Liew,
None.

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

« Back to 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/early-versus-delayed-initiation-of-disease-modifying-antirheumatic-drugs-in-rheumatoid-arthritis/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

ACR Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium 2020

© COPYRIGHT 2022 AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RHEUMATOLOGY

Wiley

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
  • Advanced Search
  • Meeting Resource Center
  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.