A simple model that suggests possible cost savings when modified-release prednisone 5 mg/day is added to current treatment in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

作者：Boers Maarten^*; Buttgereit Frank

来源：Rheumatology, 2013, 52(8): 1435-1437.

DOI：10.1093/rheumatology/ket145

• rheumatoid arthritis
• treatment
• glucocorticoids
• cost of treatment
• economic model

Methods. With the results of a recent randomized trial as source data, we expressed the effect of treatment (MR-pred vs placebo) on the decrease in the proportion of RA patients meeting disease activity thresholds for reimbursement of biologic treatment. %26lt;br%26gt;Results. The results showed 11-13% more patients on MR-pred than on placebo dropped below reimbursement thresholds for the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. Assuming 1 year of biologics cost euro15 000 and MR-pred costs euro1/day, euro396 are saved in each patient delaying biologic treatment by 12 weeks. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion. Despite a considerably higher cost than conventional prednisone, MR-pred is a cost-effective option for RA patients not on glucocorticoids who are eligible for therapy with biologic agents.

• 出版日期2013-8