The total annual economic impact of rheumatoid arthritis is estimated at €42 billion in Western Europe and €3.4 billion in Eastern Europe (2006 figures). Improved treatment strategies as well as the application of `biologic' rheumatoid arthritis drugs have been shown in randomized clinical trials to increase the chances for remission, halting of the progression of joint damage and improvement or prevention of disability. The study also concluded that patient access to the new drugs in Europe is very low in a number of member states and varies significantly between the EU and the US. The uptake of the drugs in the US was shown to be about three times higher than that of Western Europe.
"The costs of the drugs must be viewed within the overall cost of the disease and the benefit of these drugs over the long term, that is in relation to their positive health impact and the savings that should eventually result from this", health economist Dr. Gisela Kobelt said.
Up to two-thirds (65 percent) of costs for rheumatoid arthritis patients are outside the healthcare sector - such as productivity losses, patient out-of-pocket costs and informal care. Disease is frequent. with up to 50 van de vervroegde uittreding due to the percent of those het living with rheumatoidarthritis forced to leave the workforce and for a apply disease van disabilitypension within ten years of onset.
"Of all the chronic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis has one of the biggest impacts on the quality of life of patients," said Professor Josef Smolen, a rheumatologist at the Medical University of Vienna. "I am confident that this study will contribute to the discussion on the importance of RA from a societal perspective and not just a healthcare perspective. Patient access to good care and treatment including thorough follow-up examinations and access to innovative drug therapies, where indicated, are critical elements that will benefit all of society..."
The European Journal of Health Economics is a highly scientific and at the same time practical oriented journal considering the requirements of various healthcare systems in Europe. Springer is the second-largest publisher of journals in the science, technology, and medicine (STM) sector and the largest publisher of STM books. Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media, one of the world's leading suppliers of scientific and specialist literature.
Funding for the study was provided through an unrestricted educational grant by F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd..
Reference
¹Jönsson B, Kobelt G, Smolen J (Guest Editors). 2008. The Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Patient Access to Treatment. The European Journal of Health Economics. Vol. 8, Suppl. 2 / January 2008
The supplement is available to journalists as a pdf on request.
For a pdf of the supplement or logistic questions, please contact:
Joan Robinson
Springer
tel +49-6221-487-8130
For questions relating to the supplement's content, please contact:
Professor Bengt Jönsson
Stockholm School of Economics
tel +46 8736 9281
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