REAL-WORLD TREATMENT PATTERNS AND HEALTHCARE COSTS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN DUBAI: A CLAIMS-BASED ANALYSIS
Author(s)
Mohammad P. Ahmad, MHA, MD, Other;
Dubai Health Authority, Health Economics and Insurance Policies Department, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Health Authority, Health Economics and Insurance Policies Department, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
OBJECTIVES: To characterize the epidemiology, treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Dubai using real‑world insurance claims.
METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal secondary analysis was performed using the Dubai Real-World Database (DRWD) e-claims from January 2014 through March 2025. Patients with ≥1 of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD10CM) RA diagnosis claim and ≥1 RA medication claim were included. Demographics, comorbidities, treatment patterns, HCRU, direct costs were derived from claims data and summarized descriptively, while indirect costs were estimated using derivative method based on literature.
RESULTS: A total of 44,359 patients were identified (mean age, 44.6 years; 52% women).Reported new cases increased from 1,865 in 2014 to 6,259 in 2023, while repeat cases rose from 1,865 to 11,175 over the same period. Complications were uncommon (0.1%), while 30% of patients had autoimmune diseases. The median interval to first rheumatology consultation was 96 days. Treatment patterns were dominated by nonbiologics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (72%) and glucocorticoids (38%), while conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs such as methotrexate (17%) and hydroxychloroquine (18%) were used more frequently than biologics, which remained low (6-12%). Mean annual gross healthcare cost per patient increased from United States Dollar (USD) 1,462 in 2018 to USD 2,330 in 2024. Direct costs primarily included outpatient (USD 2,221) costs, inpatient costs (USD 8,458) and emergency room visits (USD 365), in 2024. Indirect costs (work disability, productivity loss) were estimated at 51% of total costs, yielding an overall economic burden of USD 73.03 million.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a marked increase in reported RA cases in Dubai, driving substantial economic burden, with direct costs largely linked to comorbidities. Limited use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and reliance on symptomatic treatment reveal major gaps in care, highlighting the need for better protocols, health-policies, and comprehensive registries.
METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal secondary analysis was performed using the Dubai Real-World Database (DRWD) e-claims from January 2014 through March 2025. Patients with ≥1 of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD10CM) RA diagnosis claim and ≥1 RA medication claim were included. Demographics, comorbidities, treatment patterns, HCRU, direct costs were derived from claims data and summarized descriptively, while indirect costs were estimated using derivative method based on literature.
RESULTS: A total of 44,359 patients were identified (mean age, 44.6 years; 52% women).Reported new cases increased from 1,865 in 2014 to 6,259 in 2023, while repeat cases rose from 1,865 to 11,175 over the same period. Complications were uncommon (0.1%), while 30% of patients had autoimmune diseases. The median interval to first rheumatology consultation was 96 days. Treatment patterns were dominated by nonbiologics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (72%) and glucocorticoids (38%), while conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs such as methotrexate (17%) and hydroxychloroquine (18%) were used more frequently than biologics, which remained low (6-12%). Mean annual gross healthcare cost per patient increased from United States Dollar (USD) 1,462 in 2018 to USD 2,330 in 2024. Direct costs primarily included outpatient (USD 2,221) costs, inpatient costs (USD 8,458) and emergency room visits (USD 365), in 2024. Indirect costs (work disability, productivity loss) were estimated at 51% of total costs, yielding an overall economic burden of USD 73.03 million.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a marked increase in reported RA cases in Dubai, driving substantial economic burden, with direct costs largely linked to comorbidities. Limited use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and reliance on symptomatic treatment reveal major gaps in care, highlighting the need for better protocols, health-policies, and comprehensive registries.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE296
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Geriatrics, SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), SDC: Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)