Costs of ankylosing spondylitis in three European countries: the patient's perspective.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To assess a patient's out of pocket costs, income loss, time consumption, and quality of life (QoL) due to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in three European countries and to assess variables predicting these outcomes. METHODS:216 patients with AS from the Netherlands, France, and Belgium participated in a two year study. Health resource use, days absent from work, time lost, and quality of life (EuroQol) were assessed by bimonthly questionnaires. AS related healthcare and non-healthcare expenditure and income loss were calculated taking into account country-specific regulations. Predictors of costs, time consumption, and QoL were analysed by Cox's regression. RESULTS:209 patients provided data for cost analysis. Average annual healthcare and non-healthcare expenditure was euro;431 pe

SUBMITTER: Boonen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1754633 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature