Costos médicos directos de la artritis reumatoide temprana

Currently there is a growing interest of the prevalence increase of the musculoskeletal diseases, since they generate disability and important costs to the health systems. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most frequent inflammatory disease and has a high socioeconomic impact. We underwent an economic evaluation of direct medical costs for early RA in Medellin, Colombia. Our results disclosed a direct total cost of US$938 for the first year of disease after diagnosis (taking into account Methotrexate as the first-choice treatment). Medications represented more than 50%, followed by the costs of diagnostic tests, while physician’s fees represented less than 6%. When Leflunomide was added to the model, the cost of drugs was increased to 71%. This analysis represents an approach to the understanding RA trade-offs and choices between wants, needs and the scarcity of resources to fulfill these in Colombia, and may allow a second-phase study on indirect and hospitalization costs.