Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Rheumatoid Arthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Personal and economic burden of late-stage rheumatoid arthritis among patients treated with adalimumab: an evaluation from a patient's perspective.

Mittendorf T, Dietz B, Sterz R, Cifaldi MA, Kupper H, von der Schulenburg JM

Center for Health Economics, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany. tm@ivbl.uni-hannover.de

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the patients' perspective of burden of disease among 505 patients with severe, long-standing rheumatoid arthritis receiving adalimumab. METHODS: Health-related quality-of-life and resource use data were collected during a 144-week open-label study. RESULTS: Adalimumab maintained pain control and reduced the duration of morning stiffness. Work impairment decreased and work productivity was maintained over the duration of the study. Costs were estimated at approximately 2100 euros over the course of the study, and personal help and transportation costs comprised a large percentage of total costs. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adalimumab could improve many aspects of a patient's burden of disease.

Published 22 January 2008 in Rheumatology (Oxford), 47(2): 188-93.
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