Publication Type : Journal Article
Thematic Areas : Medical Sciences
Publisher : International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research
Source : International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, Volume 5, Number 3, p.148-154 (2010)
Url : http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79952049113&partnerID=40&md5=c2829e1e34d5e1967b316296234b3e96
Keywords : aceclofenac, acidity, adult, aminotransferase blood level, antiinflammatory agent, arthralgia, article, azathioprine, calcium, combination chemotherapy, compression therapy, controlled clinical trial, corticosteroid, cost effectiveness analysis, coughing, cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, deflazacort, diarrhea, disease activity, Disease control, disease modifying antirheumatic drug, disease severity, dose response, drug cost, drug effect, drug efficacy, drug monitoring, face edema, famotidine, female, follow up, gastrointestinal symptom, glucosamine sulfate, glucose blood level, headache, Health Assessment Questionnaire, hospital cost, human, hydroxychloroquine, ibandronic acid, India, joint swelling, leflunomide
Campus : Kochi
School : School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy
Department : Pharmacy Practice
Year : 2010
Abstract : Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), being destructive to the joints, imposes considerable disease burden and is associated with major socioeconomic implications to the affected population. The treatment cost varies depending on the medicines used, like, a comparatively cheaper Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) or a costlier biological agent. The main objective of the study was cost effectiveness analysis of various DMARDs used in the management of RA. The design of the study was a prospective, longitudinal and observational study for a period of ten months in a tertiary care referral hospital in Kerala, India. All RA patients attended the Rheumatology OPD with 3 months' follow-up and who met the inclusion criteria was included in the study. Cost effectiveness analysis was done by taking HAQ DI score as a measure of effectiveness. Out of the 266 patients, 16.48 % were males and 83.52 % were females. RA Factor is positive for 91.01 % of patients and negative for 8.99 % of patients. Most patients (69.66 %) were on one DMARD, and a few (30.34 %) were on two DMARDs. The mean value of DAS 28 at baseline visit was 3.36 ± 1.24 and the mean after 3 months' treatment was 2.89 ± 1.09. The mean Disability Indices at baseline and after 90 days were 0.6895 ± 0.488 and 0.3934 ± 0.317 respectively. The Disability Index was highly significant after 90 days than at the baseline (p lt; 0.001). The direct medical cost of treatment of RA per month is Rs.696.57 ($ 15.92). The most cost effective combination of DMARDs was found to be MTX + HQ. The present study supports that the treatment with DMARDs and low dose corticosteroids can control patient's disease activity with reasonable cost of treatment and at minimum risk for side effects.
Cite this Research Publication : V. Ka Shini, Aboobacker, Sa, Pahuja, Sa, Revikumar, K. Ga, and Bhasi, Rb, “Pharmacoeconomic study of DMARDs in the management of rheumatoid arthritis”, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, vol. 5, pp. 148-154, 2010.