title: [What factors determine the direct medical costs of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Germany? Subanalysis of the LUCIE study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate annual direct medical costs of adult SLE patients with active autoantibody positive disease on medication in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre, observational, retrospective European study with German sub-analysis was performed. Costs were assessed according to national tariffs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  10 German centres included 77 patients. The mean (SD) annual direct medical costs of patients were € 3 452.21 (3 777.07), and were 3.4 times higher in severe than non-severe patients (€ 5 291.07 vs. 1 564.97; p<0.001). Cost of medication (€ 2 349.40) represented 68.1% of the total cost. Flares, especially severe flares, were identified as cost predictors. Each flare increased the annual total cost by € 2 164,01 (p<0,001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The annual direct medical cost of SLE patients in Germany is linked to disease severity. Medical treatments and severe flares were identified as the cost predictors and drivers, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Rheumatologische Praxis, Frankenberg.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Häckel
authors.affiliation: Rheumatologische Praxis, Bamberg.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manger
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riechers
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmeding
authors.affiliation: Rheumatologische Praxis, Herrsching.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thies
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D004180:Direct Service Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence