Cost of Illness and Determinants of Costs Among Patients with Gout

B. Spaetgens*, J.M.A. Wijnands, C. van Durme, S. van der Linden, A. Boonen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective. To estimate costs of illness in a cross-sectional cohort of patients with gout attending an outpatient rheumatology clinic, and to evaluate which factors contribute to higher costs.

Methods. Altogether, 126 patients with gout were clinically assessed. They completed a series of questionnaires. Health resource use was collected using a self-report questionnaire that was cross-checked with the electronic patient file. Productivity loss was assessed by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, addressing absenteeism and presenteeism. Resource use and productivity loss were valued by real costs, and annual costs per patient were calculated. Factors contributing to incurring costs above the median were explored using logistic univariable and multivariable regression analysis.

Results. Mean (median) annual direct costs of gout were (sic)5647 ((sic)1148) per patient. Total costs increased to (sic)6914 ((sic)1279) or (sic)10,894 ((sic)1840) per patient per year when adding cost for absenteeism or both absenteeism and presenteeism, respectively. Factors independently associated with high direct and high indirect costs were a positive history of cardiovascular disease, functional limitations, and female sex. In addition, pain, gout concerns, and unmet gout treatment needs were associated with high direct costs.

Conclusion. The direct and indirect costs-of-illness of gout are primarily associated with cardiovascular disease, functional limitations, and female sex.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)335-344
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Rheumatology
Volume42
Issue number2
Early online date15 Nov 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2015

Keywords

  • GOUT
  • COST OF ILLNESS
  • ABSENTEEISM
  • PRESENTEEISM
  • COMORBIDITIES
  • ECONOMIC EVALUATION
  • HEALTH-CARE COSTS
  • ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS ANALYSIS
  • ECONOMIC BURDEN
  • ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE
  • CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASES
  • RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS
  • SERUM URATE
  • IMPACT
  • RISK
  • HYPERURICEMIA

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