Medical and Productivity Costs of Rheumatoid Arthritis in The Czech Republic: Cost-of-Illness Study Based on Disease Severity

The Economic Burden of Biological Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

OBJECTIVES

This article aimed to count and compare treatment's direct (only biological drugs) and indirect (loss of productivity) costs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from 2019 to 2021.

METHODS

The friction cost approach was used to establish indirect costs. Elasticity factor values and friction period for the Slovak Republic from 2019 to 2021 were determined. Direct drug costs were calculated based on average prices from 2019 to 2021 and the number of dispensed medication packages.

RESULTS

The average productivity loss reached €2984.54 in 2019, €3338.46 in 2020, and €3154.01 in 2021. Total indirect costs include productivity loss and sick pay, and from 2019 to 2021 came the values of €8.4 million, €10.1 million, and €8.1 million, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Indirect costs were almost 2.5 to 3 times lower than the biological and targeted treatment costs.

Cost-Effectiveness of Repository Corticotropin Injection versus Standard of Care for the Treatment of Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

INTRODUCTION

Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often have inadequately controlled symptoms and are unable to achieve remission or low disease activity despite aggressive treatment. This results in irreversible joint damage, adversely affecting patients' physical and social functioning. The objective was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of repository corticotropin injection (RCI) versus standard of care (SoC) in patients with active RA from the United States (US) payer and societal perspectives over two to three years.

METHODS

An individual-level microsimulation was developed to generate individual trajectories for patients with RA, using data from a published Phase 4 trial of RCI. These trajectories report a patient's disease pathway and associated cost and quality-of-life outcomes. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of RCI versus SoC was assessed using the literature-derived direct medical and indirect costs, and quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) derived from a Phase 4 trial of RCI. The uncertainty in base case estimates of the parameters was evaluated in the sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Over two years, RCI has an incremental QALY gain of 1.591 and incremental cost of $183,965 and $117,443 from payer and societal perspective, respectively, resulting in an ICER of $115,629/QALY and $73,817/QALY compared to SoC. Over three years, RCI has an incremental QALY gain of 2.336 and incremental cost of $202,315 and $104,506 from payer and societal perspective, respectively, resulting in an ICER of $86,607/QALY and $44,737/QALY compared to SoC. Results from the probabilistic sensitivity analysis are consistent with those of the base case model.

CONCLUSION

RCI is a cost-effective strategy for patients with persistently active RA who are previously treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and corticosteroids compared to SoC over two to three years from the payer and societal perspectives at a US willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000/QALY. Further, the economic benefit of RCI is realized with improvement in a patient's clinical and health outcomes.

Treatment satisfaction with rheumatoid arthritis in patients with different disease severity and financial burden: A subgroup analysis of a nationwide survey in China

BACKGROUND

Despite the recent advances in treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are still unmet needs in disease outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the satisfaction with drug therapies for RA according to the levels of disease severity (patient-assessed) and proportions of treatment cost to household income.

METHODS

This was a subgroup study of a cross-sectional study in patients with RA and their physicians. The patients were subdivided into different subgroups based on their self-assessed severity of RA and on the proportions of treatment cost to household income (<10%, 10-30%, 31-50%, and >50%). The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication version II was used to assess patients' treatment satisfaction.

RESULTS

When considering all medications, effectiveness, convenience, and global satisfaction scores were lower in the severe and moderate RA subgroups than those in the mild and extremely mild RA subgroups (all P < 0.001). Effectiveness, side effects, and convenience scores were higher in the <10% subgroup compared to those in the >50% subgroup (all P < 0.05). Global satisfaction score was higher in the <10% subgroup than that in the 31% to 50% subgroup (F = 13.183, P = 0.004). For biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, effectiveness and convenience scores were lower in the severe RA subgroup than those in the extremely mild RA subgroup (both P < 0.05). Convenience score was higher in the <10% subgroup compared to that in the 31% to 50% and >50% subgroups (F = 12.646, P = 0.005). Global satisfaction score was higher in the <10% subgroup than that in the 31% to 50% subgroup (F = 8.794, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

Higher disease severity and higher financial burden were associated with lower patient satisfaction.

Cost-utility analysis of treatment options after initial tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND: For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who discontinued initial treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi), 2 approaches are commonly used: cycling to another TNFi or switching to a drug with another mechanism of action. Currently, there is no consensus on which approach to use first. A report from the IBM MarketScan Research administrative claims database showed adalimumab (cycling strategy) and abatacept (switching strategy) were more commonly prescribed after the first TNFi discontinuation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-utility of adalimumab versus abatacept in patients with RA whose initial TNFi therapy failed. METHODS: A probabilistic cost-utility microsimulation state-transition model was used. Our target population was commercially insured adults with RA, the time horizon was 10 years, and we used a payer perspective. Patients not responding to adalimumab or abatacept were moved to the next drug in a sequence of 3 and, finally, to conventional synthetic therapy. Incremental cost-utility ratios (2016 USD per quality-adjusted-life-year gained [QALY)] were calculated. Utilities were derived from a formula based on the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index and age-adjusted comorbidity score. RESULTS: Switching to abatacept after the first TNFi showed an incremental cost of just more than $11,300 over 10 years and achieved a QALY benefit of 0.16 compared with adalimumab. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $68,950 per QALY. Scenario analysis produced an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio range of $44,573 per QALY to $148,558 per QALY. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that switching to abatacept after TNFi therapy failure had an 80.6% likelihood of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY. CONCLUSIONS: Switching to abatacept is a cost-effective strategy for patients with RA whose discontinue initial therapy with TNFi. DISCLOSURES: Funding for this project was provided by a Rheumatology Research Foundation Investigator Award (principal investigator: Maria A. Lopez-Olivo). Karpes Matusevich's work was supported by a Doctoral Dissertation Research Award from the University of Texas, School of Public Health Office of Research. Lal reports competing interests outside of the submitted work (employed by Optum). Suarez-Almazor reports competing interests outside of the submitted work (consulting fees from Pfizer, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Agile Therapeutics, Amag Pharmaceuticals, and Gilead). Chan, Swint, and Cantor have nothing to disclose.

Indirect Costs of Rheumatoid Arthritis Depending on Type of Treatment-A Systematic Literature Review

The economic burden of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on society is high. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the cornerstone of therapy. Biological DMARDs are reported to prevent disability and improve quality of life, thus reducing indirect RA costs. We systematically reviewed studies on the relationship between RA and indirect costs comparing biological treatment with standard care. Studies, economic analyses, and systematic reviews published until October 2018 through a MEDLINE search were included. A total of 153 non-duplicate citations were identified, 92 (60%) were excluded as they did not meet pre-defined inclusion criteria. Sixty-one articles were included, 17 of them (28%) were reviews. After full-text review, 28 articles were included, 11 of them were reviews. Costs associated with productivity loss are substantial; in several cases, they may represent over 50% of the total. The most common method of estimation is the Human Capital method. However, certain heterogeneity is observed in the method of estimating, as well as in the resultant figures. Data from included trials indicate that biological therapy is associated with improved labor force participation despite an illness, in which the natural course of disease is defined by progressive work impairment. Use of biological DMARDs may lead to significant indirect cost benefits to society.

Cost-of-illness studies in nine Central and Eastern European countries

BACKGROUND

To date, a multi-country review evaluating the cost-of-illness (COI) studies from the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region has not yet been published. Our main objective was to provide a general description about published COI studies from CEE.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed between 1 January 2006 and 1 June 2017 in Medline, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Science to identify all relevant COI studies from nine CEE countries. COI studies reporting costs without any restrictions by age, co-morbidities, or treatment were included. Methodology, publication standards, and cost results were analysed.

RESULTS

We identified 58 studies providing 83 country-specific COI results: Austria (n = 9), Bulgaria (n = 16), Croatia (n = 3), the Czech Republic (n = 10), Hungary (n = 24), Poland (n = 11), Romania (n = 3), Slovakia (n = 3), and Slovenia (n = 4). Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (18%), neoplasms (12%), infections (11%), and neurological disorders (11%) were the most frequently studied clinical areas, and multiple sclerosis was the most commonly studied disease. Overall, 57 (98%) of the studies explicitly stated the source of resource use data, 45 (78%) the study perspective, 34 (64%) the costing method, and 24 (58%) reported at least one unit costs. Regardless of methodological differences, a positive relationship was observed between costs of diseases and countries' per capita GDP.

CONCLUSIONS

Cost-of-illness studies varied considerably in terms of methodology, publication practice, and clinical areas. Due to these heterogeneities, transferability of the COI results is limited across Central and Eastern European countries.

Mapping Quality of Life (EQ-5D) from DAPsA, Clinical DAPsA and HAQ in Psoriatic Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials and observational studies lacking measures of health-related quality of life (QoL) are often inapplicable when conducting cost-effectiveness analyses using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). The only solution is to map QoL ex post from additionally collected clinical outcomes and generic QoL instruments. Nonetheless, mapping studies are absent in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS

In this 2-year, prospective, multicentre, non-interventional study of PsA patients, EQ-5D and key clinical parameters such as Disease Activity in PsA (DAPsA), clinical DAPsA (cDAPsA; DAPsA without C-reactive protein [CRP]), and Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ) were collected. We employed a linear mixed-effect regression model (ME) of the longitudinal dataset to explore the best predictors of QoL.

RESULTS

A total of 228 patients were followed over 873 appointments/observations. DAPsA, cDAPsA and HAQ were stable and highly significant predictors of EQ-5D utilities in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The best prediction was provided using a linear ME with HAQ and cDAPsA or DAPsA. A HAQ increase of 1 point represented a decrease in EQ-5D by -0.204 or -0.203 (p < 0.0001); a one-point increase in cDAPsA or DAPsA dropped EQ-5D equally by -0.005 (p < 0.0001). The ME revealed steeper and more accurate association compared with cross-sectional regressions or non-linear models/transformations.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first mapping study conducted in PsA and we hope that our study will encourage further mapping studies in PsA. The results showed that in cases where CRP is absent, cDAPsA provides similar results to DAPsA in predicting QoL.

The monetary value of human lives lost due to neglected tropical diseases in Africa

BACKGROUND

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are an important cause of death and disability in Africa. This study estimates the monetary value of human lives lost due to NTDs in the continent in 2015.

METHODS

The lost output or human capital approach was used to evaluate the years of life lost due to premature deaths from NTDs among 10 high/upper-middle-income (Group 1), 17 middle-income (Group 2) and 27 low-income (Group 3) countries in Africa. The future losses were discounted to their present values at a 3% discount rate. The model was re-analysed using 5% and 10% discount rates to assess the impact on the estimated total value of human lives lost.

RESULTS

The estimated value of 67 860 human lives lost in 2015 due to NTDs was Int$ 5 112 472 607. Out of that, 14.6% was borne by Group 1, 57.7% by Group 2 and 27.7% by Group 3 countries. The mean value of human life lost per NTD death was Int$ 231 278, Int$ 109 771 and Int$ 37 489 for Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 countries, respectively. The estimated value of human lives lost in 2015 due to NTDs was equivalent to 0.1% of the cumulative gross domestic product of the 53 continental African countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though NTDs are not a major cause of death, they impact negatively on the productivity of those affected throughout their life-course. Thus, the case for investing in NTDs control should also be influenced by the value of NTD morbidity, availability of effective donated medicines, human rights arguments, and need to achieve the NTD-related target 3.3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (on health) by 2030.

Productivity loss of Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis - A cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was (1) to determine productivity costs due to absenteeism and presenteeism among Japanese workers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and (2) to identify additional factors associated with productivity loss among workers with RA.

METHODS

An online survey of 500 RA Japanese patients was used. The Japanese version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) was used to measure patients' functional disability. The patient health questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9) was used to measure symptoms and severity of depression. To assess work productivity the 'work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire' for rheumatoid arthritis (WPAI-RA), a six-item validated instrument was used.

RESULTS

Percentages of absenteeism and presenteeism were found to be 1% and 23%, respectively. The annual combined productivity costs of both absenteeism and presenteeism was 7877 USD per patient. Factors significantly associated with a higher productivity loss were functional disability, depressive symptoms, and time since RA diagnosis, while age, and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) treatment were significantly associated with a lower productivity loss.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of RA with bDMARDs would likely result in decreased productivity loss among Japanese patients.

Mapping the relationship between clinical and quality-of-life outcomes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

AIM

To map health-related quality of life (Qol) with clinical parameters BASFI and ASDAS-CRP measure, and other covariates.

METHODS

Our prospective multicenter non-interventional observation study of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) collected data about QoL and clinical outcomes on the initial and four subsequent visits. We employed simple linear regression analysis of a cross-sectional dataset, and fixed effect, random effect and pooled linear regression of a longitudinal dataset.

RESULTS

We showed that BASFI and ASDAS-CRP are very strong, robust predictors of EQ-5D utilities in all regression specifications together with sex (female), invalidity, and activity impairment. Additionally, the longitudinal regression analysis showed that a fixed effect model may be a viable alternative to the most commonly used random effect model or pooled linear regression due to the nature of our dataset.

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first studies using a fixed effect model in longitudinal patient-level data, although, this method has been widely used in economics.