OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between different components of cost of illness and social status in an early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohort. METHODS: 133 consecutive outpatients [age: 47 (?10) years, 63% female] with early RA [mean disease duration: 7 (?4) months] fulfilling diagnostic criteria for RA were enrolled. All patients were gainfully employed at onset of symptoms (T1). Data collection was performed using standardized interviews at T1 and 12 months later (T2). The mean observation period was 19 (?4) months. Three major cost components were analyzed: 1) costs for application and monitoring of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD; direct costs), 2) loss of productivity due to sick leave, work disability, and other work loss (indirect costs), and 3) patient-related non-imbursed costs. Social status was measured by the patients´ education level (no and low degree versus higher degrees). RESULTS: The main results are shown in table 1. Indirect costs are significantly higher in patients with lower levels of education and expenses concerning non-imbursed treatment and medication tend to be less. No differences can be seen in the use of DMARD. Table 1: Major cost components dichotomized by education level. Education level DMARD costs Indirect costs patient-related costs Low degree (n=72) 115 552 DM 40 095 DM 690 DM High degree (n=61) 90 627 DM 22 935 DM 1252 DM Student’s t-Test p>0.1 p<0.005 p<0.1 CONCLUSION: Especially the indirect costs were found to be related to social strata in patients with early RA. Further research is needed to identify indicators that may explain these findings. Distinct therapeutic measures have to be taken for these patients already in early stages of the disease.