title: Economic burden of systemic lupus erythematosus flares and comorbidities in a commercially insured population in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the medical and productivity-related cost burden of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares and comorbidities in a commercially insured population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using administrative data, annual medical costs and indirect costs because of work loss were calculated for adult SLE patients, including flare severity and SLE-related comorbidity subsets, and a matched control group without SLE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adjusted annualized medical costs were $18,952, $4305, $914, and $441 greater for SLE patients with severe, moderate, mild, and no flares, respectively, during follow-up than those of the matched controls. Medical costs also varied by SLE-related comorbidity. Adjusted annualized indirect costs of work loss because of absence and short-term disability were $1867 and $1602 greater, respectively, for SLE patients than for controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SLE imposes a substantial cost burden to both patients and their employers.
authors.affiliation: From the Human Genome Sciences and IPSOS (Dr Narayanan), Rockville, MD; Truven Health Analytics (Ms Wilson, Mr Juneau, and Dr Durden), Washington, DC; and GlaxoSmithKline (Mr Ogelsby) Raleigh Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Siva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogelsby
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juneau
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Durden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult