ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: 1383

The Burden of Ankylosing Spondylitis and the Cost-Effectiveness of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Agents in Romania

Ioan Ancuta1, Catalin Codreanu2, Ruxandra Ionescu3, Magda Parvu4 and Mihai Bojinca1, 1Internal Medicine, “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, 2Rheumatology, “Dr. I. Stoia” Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Bucharest, Romania, 3Internal Medicine, Clinic Hospital Sf. Maria, Bucharest, Romania, 4Internal Medicine, “N.Gh. Lupu” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania

Meeting: 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: Adalimumab, Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), anti-TNF therapy, etanercept and infliximab

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Session Information

Title: Spondylarthropathies and Psoriatic Arthritis: Clinical Aspects and Treatment

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) usually affects young males, severely impairing their quality of life. Chronic treatment of AS using anti-TNF α agents is costly and represents a main concern for the national health insurance system, currently covering costs for three drugs: Adalimumab (ADA), Etanercept (ETA) and Infliximab (INF). Limited budget prompted the need to find optimal therapeutic approach. We aimed to identify the best cost/efficiency ratio when comparing clinical outcomes of anti-TNF α agents ADA/ETA/INF and to develop future treatment guidelines.

Methods: In a longitudinal, population-based study we retrospectively investigated, as of June 2012, the clinical files of 320 patients treated with ADA (n=70, 40 mg/2 weeks), ETA (n=50, 50 mg/week) and INF (n=200, 5 mg/kg at week 0, 2 and 6 then at every 6 to 8 weeks), out of 1859 AS patients on record in database (2008-2012) of state health insurance system. Costs were calculated in local currency (RON), according to standard clinical practice prescribed doses and reimbursed drug list prices, no infusions or other additional costs were included. We used multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) and chi-squared tests to analyze statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in treatment efficacy.

Results: Concomitant use of disease modifying therapy (DMARD) was similar in all groups. Treatment efficacy was assessed and compared using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), tender joints count (TJC) and swollen joints count (SJC), C Reactive Protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR). Assessments were made at 6 month intervals over a maximum period of 54 months after treatment initiation. In our nationally representative cohort, 266 (83.1%) patients were male. Overall, mean age was 37.4±9.8 years and average disease evolution 7.6±6.1 years. Sacroiliitis was present in 34 (10.6%) patients, calcaneum was affected in 45(14.1%), as confirmed on MRI scans, 27(8.4%) showed ophthalmic symptoms of autoimmune disease, 188 (58.8%) suffered from axial AS and 132 (41.2%) were diagnosed with mixed AS. Median baseline BASDAI values were 8.02±0.78, 8.07±0.92 and 8.13±0.82, in ADA, ETA and INF groups, respectively. We found statistical difference (p<0.0001) in CRP values at 6 months from baseline, but no difference at any other assessment. Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences between groups at any assessments for ESR, TJC and SJC. In contrast, drug cost analysis showed INF as the most expensive followed by ADA and by ETA.

 

anti-TNF α agent

Median price (RON)

Difference vs. most expensive (%)

Average price (RON)

Difference in average price (all patients) vs. average price per therapy (%)

INF

58.933

0

65.195

8.36

ADA

52.248

-12.80

52.248

-14.34

ETA

48.420

-21.71

48.420

-23.38

1 USD = 3.5766 RON

Conclusion: For the vast majority of endpoints, including BASDAI index, there were no statistically significant differences in treatment efficacy between the investigated groups at any assessment. Therefore, we suggest that treatment cost, rather than active compound, might be taken into consideration when choosing between these three anti-TNF α drugs for treatment of autoimmune AS.


Disclosure:

I. Ancuta,
None;

C. Codreanu,
None;

R. Ionescu,
None;

M. Parvu,
None;

M. Bojinca,
None.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

« Back to 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/the-burden-of-ankylosing-spondylitis-and-the-cost-effectiveness-of-anti-tumor-necrosis-factor-%ce%b1-agents-in-romania/

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 »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology