Disease status, costs and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in France: The ECO-PR Study

ObjectiveTo investigate resource consumption and quality of life (utility) in a sample of patients covering the full spectrum of the disease, modalities of patient management and geographic areas.MethodsInformation on demographics, disease parameters, work capacity and resource consumption (in the past 1, 3 or 12 months depending on the resource) was collected in an anonymous mail survey from all members of a national patient association (ANDAR). Results are presented for the sample and by level of functional capacity, in €2005.Results1487 patients were included in the analysis (response rate 49%). Mean age was 62.7 years and 83.5% of respondents were female. Mean disease duration was 18 years; mean HAQ was 1.42; fatigue and pain ranked 5.6 and 4.8 on a scale between 0 and 10, respectively. Of patients below 60 years, 34% had taken early retirement due to RA, and only 15% of patients with a HAQ of 2 or higher were working. Productivity losses were estimated at €5076, of which indemnity payments covered €1944. Direct health care costs were €11,757 in the societal perspective and €9216 in the perspective of the national health insurance. Direct non-medical costs (including informal care) were €4857 and €136 respectively. Costs to society increased from €9400 in mild disease to €40,700 in severe disease, and to public payers from €6000 to €19,000. Utility decreased simultaneously from 0.80 to 0.06.ConclusionThe study confirms overall findings in other studies in other countries, and provides the first estimate of all costs by disease severity in France.