Economic Considerations of the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with both significant direct and indirect costs, which vary by country, and have generally increased dramatically since the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. The cost-effectiveness of biologic agents is controversial, although cost...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of the medical sciences 2012-05, Vol.343 (5), p.371-374
Main Authors: Reveille, John D., MD, Ximenes, Antonio, MD, Ward, Michael M., MD, MPH, Deodhar, Atul, MD, Clegg, Daniel, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ankylosing spondylitis
Anti-TNF treatment
Antirheumatic Agents - administration & dosage
Antirheumatic Agents - economics
Biological and medical sciences
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Economics
Exercise Therapy
General aspects
Health Care Costs
Humans
Inflammatory joint diseases
Internal Medicine
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Physician's Role
Psoriatic arthritis
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Rheumatology
Spondylitis, Ankylosing - economics
Spondylitis, Ankylosing - therapy
Spondyloarthritis
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with both significant direct and indirect costs, which vary by country, and have generally increased dramatically since the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. The cost-effectiveness of biologic agents is controversial, although cost-effectiveness studies need to consider the potential impact of anti-tumor necrosis factor treatments on work ability. Alternatives to reduce costs associated with biologics have been examined, including on-demand dosing and lower dose alternatives. Other treatment measures, such as total hip arthroplasty and physical therapy, are also effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with AS, although the optimal type or combination of physical therapy treatment modalities, the optimal frequency and duration of treatment and whether therapy is equally effective in stable disease and uncontrolled AS need to be determined. No studies have examined differences in patient outcomes based on subspecialty care. Establishing an evidence base for these questions would help inform policy decisions to design the most cost-effective measures to treat AS.
ISSN:0002-9629
1538-2990
DOI:10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3182514093