title: [Direct costs of osteoarthritis].
abstract: The aim of this study was to calculate the direct costs of illness in patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Costs were reported retrospectively by a self-administered questionnaire, covering the period of 12 months prior to joint replacement. Total direct costs amounted to 2747.- euros, medical costs were 1148.- euros, and non-medical costs were 1599.- euros. Late-stage osteoarthritis is expensive because of high costs mainly from personal care and household assistance caused by severe loss of function.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rheumatologie der Kurstadt Baden, Ludwig Boltzmann-Cluster Rheumatologie, Balneologie und Rehabilitation, RSKA Baden der NÖGKK, Baden, Österreich. ernst.wagner@noegkk.at
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies