Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Systematic Review
Author(s)
Tadesse Gebrye1, Chidozie Emmanuel Mbada, PhD2, Clara Toyin Fatoye, BSc, MA2, Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu, PhD3, Francis Fatoye, BSc, MBA, MSc, PhD2.
1Research Associate, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom, 2Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.
1Research Associate, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom, 2Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic was to quantify the economic impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) on households, health systems, and society.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to assess the economic burden of RA in LMICs, focusing on direct and indirect disease-related costs. Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched using keywords related to RA and cost of illness. Eligible studies were required to report RA-related costs, conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and published in English. We appraised the quality of included studies using the NOS for cohort studies. A narrative synthesis of findings was performed.
RESULTS: A total of 5,134 studies were identified for screening. After removing 1,028 duplicates, the remaining studies were screened by title and abstract, resulting in 50 studies selected for full-text review. Of these, 15 studies ultimately met the predefined eligibility criteria for inclusion. The majority of the included studies were of moderate to high quality. These studies were originated from a diverse set of LMICs, including Turkey (n=3), Thailand, China (n=2), Hungary, Mexico, Colombia, Morocco, Pakistan, India, Romania, Brazil, and Argentina. Of the 15 studies, 9 adopted a societal perspective, while 6 used a healthcare perspective. The total sample size across these studies was 218,575 participants, individual study sample sizes ranged from 62 to 209,292. The reported average annual direct costs per patient varied substantially, ranging from US$2,35.1 to US$2,135. In terms of indirect costs, the average annual expense per patient ranged from US$21.21 to US$547.
CONCLUSIONS: The economic burden of RA in LMICs is significant, with direct costs per patient varying widely and indirect costs adding to the its overall economic burden. Addressing these costs can improve access to treatment, enhance resource allocation, and reduce long-term healthcare expenditures, while also fostering better health outcomes and productivity.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to assess the economic burden of RA in LMICs, focusing on direct and indirect disease-related costs. Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched using keywords related to RA and cost of illness. Eligible studies were required to report RA-related costs, conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and published in English. We appraised the quality of included studies using the NOS for cohort studies. A narrative synthesis of findings was performed.
RESULTS: A total of 5,134 studies were identified for screening. After removing 1,028 duplicates, the remaining studies were screened by title and abstract, resulting in 50 studies selected for full-text review. Of these, 15 studies ultimately met the predefined eligibility criteria for inclusion. The majority of the included studies were of moderate to high quality. These studies were originated from a diverse set of LMICs, including Turkey (n=3), Thailand, China (n=2), Hungary, Mexico, Colombia, Morocco, Pakistan, India, Romania, Brazil, and Argentina. Of the 15 studies, 9 adopted a societal perspective, while 6 used a healthcare perspective. The total sample size across these studies was 218,575 participants, individual study sample sizes ranged from 62 to 209,292. The reported average annual direct costs per patient varied substantially, ranging from US$2,35.1 to US$2,135. In terms of indirect costs, the average annual expense per patient ranged from US$21.21 to US$547.
CONCLUSIONS: The economic burden of RA in LMICs is significant, with direct costs per patient varying widely and indirect costs adding to the its overall economic burden. Addressing these costs can improve access to treatment, enhance resource allocation, and reduce long-term healthcare expenditures, while also fostering better health outcomes and productivity.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EE337
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal)