[Semester direct cost by rheumatoid arthritis in patients in a university hospital].
BACKGROUND
There are no medical publications with economic analysis of rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) from Argentina are lacking. The objective of the present study is to determine the direct cost and its breakdown in patients with RA.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients who met the American College of Rheumatology RA criteria were included. Direct cost was calculated over a follow-up period of 6 months during year 2001. Variables were analyzed with Student's T test, Mann-Whitney U Test, c' or ANOVA as corresponded. P values < 0.05 were considered significant.


RESULTS
The mean monthly home income was $426.6 SD 272. The mean half-yearly direct costs was $677.5 SD 376.2. The components of the direct cost were identified and the mean for medication cost was $606.7 (89%), for lab tests was $45.5 (7%), for medical attention $12.5 (2%) and other costs $2.4. No differences in total cost or in medication cost were found when compared considering age, evolution time of RA or HAQ scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Half-yearly direct cost in RA is excessively high considering the monthly mean income of the patients being analyzed. The cost of medication was the principal component of the direct cost.
Audisio
Marcelo J
MJ
Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Nacional de Clínicas, Córdoba, Argentina.
Strusberg
Ingrid
I
Orellana Barrera
Sergio D
SD
Drenkard
Cristina M
CM
Barberis
Gloria
G
Gamrón
Susana
S
Onetti
Carlos M
CM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001118:Argentina; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors