TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct and indirect costs to employers of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with and without nephritis
AU - Carls, Ginger
AU - Li, Tracy
AU - Panopalis, Pantelis
AU - Wang, Shaohung
AU - Mell, Amy G.
AU - Gibson, Teresa B.
AU - Goetzel, Ron Z.
PY - 2009/1
Y1 - 2009/1
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To estimate the medical- and productivity-related cost burden of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and SLE with nephritis in an employee population. METHODS: Using administrative data, annual costs were calculated for SLE patients, a subset with nephritis, and a matched control group of patients without SLE. These costs were compared with the cost of other chronic conditions. RESULTS: Mean annual medical expenditures and short term disability costs for SLE patients were $12,238 and $1184 greater (2005 dollars), respectively, than those of controls. Mean medical expenditures for SLE/nephritis patients were $46,862 greater than for controls. When compared with other chronic health conditions faced by employees, SLE/nephritis was the most costly condition. CONCLUSIONS: SLE, particularly with nephritis, is associated with substantial costs. Therapies that can better manage SLE may provide opportunities for savings to employers.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To estimate the medical- and productivity-related cost burden of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and SLE with nephritis in an employee population. METHODS: Using administrative data, annual costs were calculated for SLE patients, a subset with nephritis, and a matched control group of patients without SLE. These costs were compared with the cost of other chronic conditions. RESULTS: Mean annual medical expenditures and short term disability costs for SLE patients were $12,238 and $1184 greater (2005 dollars), respectively, than those of controls. Mean medical expenditures for SLE/nephritis patients were $46,862 greater than for controls. When compared with other chronic health conditions faced by employees, SLE/nephritis was the most costly condition. CONCLUSIONS: SLE, particularly with nephritis, is associated with substantial costs. Therapies that can better manage SLE may provide opportunities for savings to employers.
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U2 - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31818a405a
DO - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31818a405a
M3 - Article
C2 - 19136875
AN - SCOPUS:66749176262
VL - 51
SP - 66
EP - 79
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
SN - 1076-2752
IS - 1
ER -