Cost-Effectiveness of Biologics Compared with Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Introduction: For many rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, RA leads to pain and stiffness, progressive joint destruction, functional disability, and premature mortality. The economic burden of RA is significant and includes direct costs (medical visits, medications, laboratory testing, and imaging) and indirect costs (lost productivity, early mortality, and out-ofpocket health care expenses). Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) slow the progression of joint damage and loss of function associated with RA. Newer but significantly more expensive biologic agents offer greater potential to slow disease progression and extend productivity, which raises the question of whether the improved clinical outcomes with biologics are worth their higher costs. Aims: This study identified and critically appraised existing economic evaluations of biologics versus DMARDs for adults with RA. Furthermore, it examined whether the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were within the range of generally accepted medical interventions.