Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 64-69 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | European Journal of Health Economics |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 24 Sept 2003 |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2004 |
Abstract
Accurate estimation of medical care costs raises a host of challenging issues. We examined whether pure administrative claims data without clinical validation of diagnosis allow reasonable estimation of disease-related costs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Three patient groups were examined: patients with clinically confirmed RA (group A, n=338), patients with likely RA (administrative claims data reported the diagnosis of RA and patients were treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, DMARDs; group B, n=303), and patients with possible RA (same as group B but patients had no DMARD treatment; group C, n=685). The payer's perspective was taken for this analysis. Only direct costs were included in the analysis. Cost data and data for several covariates were obtained from a major German statutory health insurance plan, the AOK Niedersachsen. A patient-per-patient microcosting approach was performed. A repeated measures, fixed effect model was applied to examine differences between the three study groups. Mean±SEM annual RA-related direct costs were € 2,017±183 per patient-year in group A, € 1763±192 in group B, and € 805±58 in group C. Outpatient (inpatient) costs were € 1636 (328) in group A, € 1344 (340) in group B, and € 546 (136) in group C. DMARD costs were by far the single most important cost driver in groups A and B. The difference in total RA-related direct cost between groups A and B was not significant whereas the differences between groups A and C (group B and C respectively), were significant. Pure administrative claims data allowed for an accurate estimate of disease-related costs-in RA patients that received DMARD therapy. However, the high number of patients for whom administrative claims data listed the diagnosis RA, but no DMARD treatment was given poses a challenge for further research.
Keywords
- Cost of illness, Health economics, Rheumatoid arthritis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous)
- Medicine(all)
- Health Policy
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: European Journal of Health Economics, Vol. 5, No. 1, 02.2004, p. 64-69.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of estimated medical costs among patients who are defined as having rheumatoid arthritis using three different standards
AU - Ruof, Jörg
AU - Hülsemann, Jan L.
AU - Mittendorf, Thomas
AU - Handelmann, Silke
AU - Aultman, Rick
AU - Von Der Schulenburg, J. Matthias
AU - Zeidler, Henning
AU - Merkesdal, Sonja
PY - 2004/2
Y1 - 2004/2
N2 - Accurate estimation of medical care costs raises a host of challenging issues. We examined whether pure administrative claims data without clinical validation of diagnosis allow reasonable estimation of disease-related costs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Three patient groups were examined: patients with clinically confirmed RA (group A, n=338), patients with likely RA (administrative claims data reported the diagnosis of RA and patients were treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, DMARDs; group B, n=303), and patients with possible RA (same as group B but patients had no DMARD treatment; group C, n=685). The payer's perspective was taken for this analysis. Only direct costs were included in the analysis. Cost data and data for several covariates were obtained from a major German statutory health insurance plan, the AOK Niedersachsen. A patient-per-patient microcosting approach was performed. A repeated measures, fixed effect model was applied to examine differences between the three study groups. Mean±SEM annual RA-related direct costs were € 2,017±183 per patient-year in group A, € 1763±192 in group B, and € 805±58 in group C. Outpatient (inpatient) costs were € 1636 (328) in group A, € 1344 (340) in group B, and € 546 (136) in group C. DMARD costs were by far the single most important cost driver in groups A and B. The difference in total RA-related direct cost between groups A and B was not significant whereas the differences between groups A and C (group B and C respectively), were significant. Pure administrative claims data allowed for an accurate estimate of disease-related costs-in RA patients that received DMARD therapy. However, the high number of patients for whom administrative claims data listed the diagnosis RA, but no DMARD treatment was given poses a challenge for further research.
AB - Accurate estimation of medical care costs raises a host of challenging issues. We examined whether pure administrative claims data without clinical validation of diagnosis allow reasonable estimation of disease-related costs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Three patient groups were examined: patients with clinically confirmed RA (group A, n=338), patients with likely RA (administrative claims data reported the diagnosis of RA and patients were treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, DMARDs; group B, n=303), and patients with possible RA (same as group B but patients had no DMARD treatment; group C, n=685). The payer's perspective was taken for this analysis. Only direct costs were included in the analysis. Cost data and data for several covariates were obtained from a major German statutory health insurance plan, the AOK Niedersachsen. A patient-per-patient microcosting approach was performed. A repeated measures, fixed effect model was applied to examine differences between the three study groups. Mean±SEM annual RA-related direct costs were € 2,017±183 per patient-year in group A, € 1763±192 in group B, and € 805±58 in group C. Outpatient (inpatient) costs were € 1636 (328) in group A, € 1344 (340) in group B, and € 546 (136) in group C. DMARD costs were by far the single most important cost driver in groups A and B. The difference in total RA-related direct cost between groups A and B was not significant whereas the differences between groups A and C (group B and C respectively), were significant. Pure administrative claims data allowed for an accurate estimate of disease-related costs-in RA patients that received DMARD therapy. However, the high number of patients for whom administrative claims data listed the diagnosis RA, but no DMARD treatment was given poses a challenge for further research.
KW - Cost of illness
KW - Health economics
KW - Rheumatoid arthritis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1542284168&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10198-003-0203-4
DO - 10.1007/s10198-003-0203-4
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15452767
AN - SCOPUS:1542284168
VL - 5
SP - 64
EP - 69
JO - European Journal of Health Economics
JF - European Journal of Health Economics
SN - 1618-7598
IS - 1
ER -