The impact of rheumatoid arthritis on medical expenditures, absenteeism, and short-term disability benefits.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to estimate medical expenditures, absenteeism, and short-term disability costs for workers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to estimate the relative costs of RA over a 12-month period.


METHODS
Using data from nine U.S. employers, direct and indirect costs for 8502 workers with RA were compared with costs for a matched group without RA. Regression analyses controlled for factors that were different even after propensity score matching.


RESULTS
Average total costs for workers with RA were $4244 (2003 dollars) greater than for workers without RA. RA was the fourth most costly chronic condition per employee compared with cancers, asthma, bipolar disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, low back disorders, and renal failure.


CONCLUSIONS
RA is a costly disorder and merits consideration as interventions are considered to improve workers' health and productivity.
Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA. Ron.Ozminkowski@Thomson.com
Ronald J
RJ
Ozminkowski
Wayne N
WN
Burton
Ron Z
RZ
Goetzel
Ross
R
Maclean
Shaohung
S
Wang
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D018868:Insurance, Disability / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology