title: Best cost-effectiveness and worker productivity with initial triple DMARD therapy compared with methotrexate monotherapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: cost-utility analysis of the tREACH trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate direct and indirect costs per quality adjusted life year (QALY) for different initial treatment strategies in very early RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 1-year data of the treatment in the Rotterdam Early Arthritis Cohort trial were used. Patients with a high probability (>70%) according to their likelihood of progressing to persistent arthritis, based on the prediction model of Visser, were randomized into one of following initial treatment strategies: (A) initial triple DMARD therapy (iTDT) with glucocorticoids (GCs) intramuscular (n = 91); (B) iTDT with an oral GC tapering scheme (n = 93); and (C) initial MTX monotherapy (iMM) with GCs similar to B (n = 97). Data on QALYs, measured with the Dutch EuroQol, and direct and indirect cost were used. Direct costs are costs of treatment and medical consumption, whereas indirect costs are costs due to loss of productivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average QALYs (sd) for A, B and C were, respectively, 0.75 (0.12), 0.75 (0.10) and 0.73 (0.13) for Dutch EuroQol. Highest total costs per QALY (sd) were, respectively, €12748 (€18767), €10 380 (€15 608) and €17 408 (€21 828) for strategy A, B and C (P = 0.012, B vs C). Direct as well as indirect costs were higher with iMM (strategy C) compared with iTDT (strategy B). Higher direct costs were due to ∼40% more biologic usage over time. Higher indirect costs, on the other hand, were caused by more long-term sickness and reduction in contract hours. iTDT was >95% cost-effective across all willingness-to-pay thresholds compared with iMM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  iTDT was more cost-effective and had better worker productivity compared with iMM.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center p.h.p.dejong@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Pascal H P
authors: PH
authors: de Jong
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center.
authors: Johanna M
authors: JM
authors: Hazes
authors: Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University.
authors: Leander R
authors: LR
authors: Buisman
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Maasstad Hospital.
authors: Pieternella J
authors: PJ
authors: Barendregt
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Sint Francicus Gasthuis Hospital, Rotterdam.
authors: Derkjen
authors: D
authors: van Zeben
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Vlietland Hospital, Schiedam.
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: van der Lubbe
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Vlietland Hospital, Schiedam.
authors: Andreas H
authors: AH
authors: Gerards
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht.
authors: Mike H
authors: MH
authors: de Jager
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Admiraal de Ruyter Hospital, Goes.
authors: Peter B J
authors: PB
authors: de Sonnaville
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Zorgsaam Hospital, Terneuzen, the Netherlands.
authors: Bernard A
authors: BA
authors: Grillet
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center.
authors: Jolanda J
authors: JJ
authors: Luime
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center.|Department of Rheumatology, Maasstad Hospital.
authors: Angelique E A M
authors: AE
authors: Weel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: QALY; cost–utility; direct and indirect costs; early arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; worker productivity