OBJECTIVES: To describe the direct costs of patients diagnosed with Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) at the Hospital Militar Central under conventional o DMARD therapy compared with biological therapy.

METHODS: Economic evaluation study, estimation of direct costs of biological therapy in axSpA according to ASAS criteria. The methodology of costing by procedures and the identification of costing sequence, quantification and valuation of resources was used. With a complementary sensitivity analysis. The costs are presented adjusted in US dollars for 2022.

RESULTS: 162 patients with a diagnosis of axSpA were included (117 Ankylosing spondylitis [AS] and 45 Psoriatic arthritis [PsA]) were included, AS 63.2% men, age 46.4 ± 13.7 years. The use of medication was DMARDs 49.6%, NSAIDs 64.1%, anti-TNF 40.2%, and anti-IL-17 2.6%. PsA 55% men, age 50.7 ± 12.9 years. The use of medication was DMARDs 51.1%, NSAIDs 31.1%, anti-TNF 24.4% and anti-IL-12/23 2.2%. AS average annual direct costs / patient was $565.3 NSAID group, $464.5 DMARDs group, and $9,751.2 biological therapy group. PsA average annual direct costs / patient was $277.9 NSAID group, $715 DMARDs group, and $10,608.6 biological therapy group.

CONCLUSIONS: The costs related to axSpA are like those reported in the literature when adjusted for the purchasing power of parity. Understanding this aspect is the starting point to promote a more efficient distribution of the limited resources destined to the management and control of AS and PsA.