Treating rheumatoid arthritis in Zanzibar: a cost effectiveness study comparing conventional, biologic, and targeted-synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

ABSTRACT: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease with low treatment coverage in sub-Saharan Africa. Effective treatment strategies are available. We aimed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of six disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treat-to-target treatment strategies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Zanzibar. A Markov model was used to calculate the cost-effectiveness of various DMARD strategies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis over a 3-year period. A health-provider perspective was used and only outpatient costs were considered. The Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was utilized for measurement of efficacy and values were obtained from literature. Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were obtained from 122 patients attending the rheumatology cl

SUBMITTER: Said SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12405486 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature