title: [Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the Brazilian Unified National Health System: expenditures on infliximab compared to synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, 2003-2006].
abstract: This study aimed to characterize the profile of users and related expenses with infliximab and synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis treatment in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). We constructed a cohort from 2003 to 2006 drawing on databases of the SUS Outpatient Information System. Analyses were stratified by clinical and socio-demographic characteristics. We calculated average monthly expenditure per individual follow-up year and the factors that influenced it. The cohort consisted of 26,228 patients, mostly female, between 40 and 59 years of age, living in the Southeast of Brazil, and diagnosed with Felty's syndrome. Medicines for rheumatoid arthritis totalized BRL 74,306,087.18, of which infliximab accounted for 70%. Median monthly per capita expenditure was BRL 3,466.03 for patients receiving infliximab compared to BRL 143.85 for patients treated with synthetic DMARD. Drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was the main expense in SUS, with high economic impact from infliximab. Sex, diagnosis, age, and region of residence were factors that influenced expenditures.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo  Horizonte, Brasil, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo  Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana de Oliveira
authors.initials: Jde O
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo   Horizonte, Brasil, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,  Belo   Horizonte , Brasil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Maciel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo   Horizonte, Brasil, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,  Belo   Horizonte , Brasil.
authors.forename: Augusto Afonso
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo  Horizonte, Brasil, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo  Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mariangela Leal
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cherchiglia
authors.forename: Eli Iola Gurgel
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo   Horizonte, Brasil, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,  Belo   Horizonte , Brasil.
authors.forename: Francisco de Assis
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Acurcio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab