Personal and economic burden of late-stage rheumatoid arthritis among patients treated with adalimumab: an evaluation from a patient's perspective.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the patients' perspective of burden of disease among 505 patients with severe, long-standing rheumatoid arthritis receiving adalimumab.


METHODS
Health-related quality-of-life and resource use data were collected during a 144-week open-label study.


RESULTS
Adalimumab maintained pain control and reduced the duration of morning stiffness. Work impairment decreased and work productivity was maintained over the duration of the study. Costs were estimated at approximately 2100 euros over the course of the study, and personal help and transportation costs comprised a large percentage of total costs.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that adalimumab could improve many aspects of a patient's burden of disease.
Mittendorf
T
T
Center for Health Economics, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany. tm@ivbl.uni-hannover.de
Dietz
B
B
Sterz
R
R
Cifaldi
M A
MA
Kupper
H
H
von der Schulenburg
J-M
JM
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D000068879:Adalimumab